Lok Sabha Question No. 2327 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2023-03-15
Subject: Lithium Deposits found by GSI in J&K
Ministry: MINES
Asked by: Sanjay Sadashivrao Mandlik, Prataprao  Jadhav, Mala Roy, Bidyut Baran Mahato, Sudheer Gupta, Sambhajirao Mane Dhairyasheel, Shrirang Appa Barne

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF MINES

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2327

ANSWERED ON 15.03.2023

## LITHIUM DEPOSITS FOUND BY GSI IN J&K

2327.  SHRI SANJAY SADASHIVRAO MANDLIK:

SHRI PRATAPRAO JADHAV:

SHRIMATI MALA ROY:

SHRI BIDYUT BARAN MAHATO:

SHRI SUDHEER GUPTA:

SHRI DHAIRYASHEEL SAMBHAJIRAO MANE:

SHRI SHRIRANG APPA BARNE:

Will the Minister of MINES be pleased to state:

- (a) whether Geological Survey of India (GSI) has found huge lithium deposits in the Salal Haimana area of Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir and if so, the details thereof;
- (b) the estimated value of lithium found by the GSI in this UT;
- (c)  whether the Government has developed a roadmap for scientific exploration of lithium from the area and if so, the details thereof and progress made in this direction;
- (d) whether the Government proposes to increase the resources and supply chain of lithium in the country from indigenous sources and if so, the details thereof;
- (e) whether the Government has set any policy to explore lithium mines in the country and if so, the details thereof along with the action taken in this regard; and
- (f) the other steps taken to explore lithium mines at new sites in view of easing the dependency on imports?

## ANSWER

## THE MINISTER OF MINES, COAL AND PARLIAMENTARY AFFAIRS (SHRI PRALHAD JOSHI)

- (a): Yes, Sir. Geological Survey of India (GSI), an attached office of Ministry of Mines, carried out a G3 stage mineral exploration project during Field Season 2020-21 and 2021-22 in Salal-Haimna areas of Reasi district, Jammu & Kashmir and estimated an inferred resource (G3) of 5.9 million tonnes of lithium ore and the report has been handed over to the Government of Union Territory of J&K.
- (b): GSI proposes to carry out more exploration activities in J&K for identifying lithium resources. The estimated value of lithium in J&K will be estimated on completion of further exploration.
- (c): Yes, Sir.
- i. GSI  generates  baseline  geoscience  data  through  mapping,  e.g.  geological, geochemical,  geophysical  which  is  pre-requisite  for  identifying  the  potential area  for  systematic  mineral  exploration.  Based  on  the  mapping  data,  GSI

carries out systematic mineral exploration activities for various major mineral commodities including lithium.

- ii. In  part  of  Jammu  &  Kashmir,  as  a  follow  up  of  lithium  exploration  in  SalalHaimna areas of Reasi district, GSI has taken up another reconnaissance G4 stage exploration programme on lithium and associated mineral  in Panasa Dugga  -  Baldhanun  -  Chakar  -  Sangarmarg  (Saro-da-Bas)  area  of  Reasi district during current field season 2022-23 and the work is in progress.
- iii. Based  on  the  mapping  outcome  more  exploration  programme  on  various mineral commodities including lithium will be taken up in future in different parts of the country including Jammu & Kashmir.

(d)  to  (f): Geological Survey of India (GSI) and Mineral Exploration & Consultancy Limited (MECL) have taken up a number of exploration projects of lithium and will take up more projects in future. Ministry of Mines provides 100% funding from National Mineral  Exploration  Trust  (NMET)  to  State  Governments  and  private  exploration agencies, if they take up lithium exploration projects. The details of exploration projects of Lithium taken up by GSI in last 5 years is given in Annexure-I.

*****

The details of mineral exploration by GSI during last 5 years and current year 2022-23

- Sl. No.  FS year

State

District

Name of Mineral Block / Area/ Belt

UNFC Stage

Mineral Commodity

1. 2017- 18

- Rajasthan

- Tonk &

SawaiMadhopur district

Sohela-Karola- Siras-Bassi- Parana

- G4

Tungsten & Lithium

- 2.

- Rajasthan

Ajmer, Pali, and Nagaur district

Kotariya- Pipaliya- Gurha

- G4

Tungsten & Lithium

- 3.

- 2018- 19

- Chhastishgarh Korba

- Katghora- Garhatara

- G4

- lithium, RM

- 4.

- 2019- 20

- Bihar

- Nawada

- Pichhli-Meghatari  G4

Lithium, REE and RM

- 5.

- Meghalaya

- East Khasi Hills

- Umlyngpung

- G4

Lithium,  REE & RM

- 6.

- Himachal Pradesh

Kinnaur

- Nako

- G4

Tin, Tungsten,

Lithium,

Molybdenum, RM and REE

- 7.

- Rajasthan

- Sirohi

- Sibagaon

- G3

Lithium & rare metals

- 8.

2019- 20 & 20-21

- Rajasthan

- Nagaur

- Rewat Hill

- G2

Tungsten, Lithium

- 9.

- 10.

- 2020- 21

Madhya Pradesh

- Betul

Kesmar -

Mendakheda

- G4

- scandium, lithium

- 11.

- Bihar

- Jamui

Harni-Kalwadih- Charkapthal

- G4

Lithium, REE, RM

- 12.

- Jharkhand

- Koderma

Dhorakola- Kusahna

- G4

Lithium and Caesium

- 13.

- Bihar

- Jamui

- Parmania-Tetariya G4

- Lithium, REE, RM

- 14.

Jammu & Kashmir

- Reasi

- Salal-Haimna

- G3

Bauxite, REE & lithium

- 15.

2021- 22

- Chhattisgarh

- Korba

Tarma Pahar and Konkona

G4

- Lithium, RM

- 16.

Arunachal Pradesh

- West Kameng

- Nafra

- G4

Lithium, tin & tungsten

- 17.

Jammu & Kashmir

- Reasi

Sersandu - Kherikot - Rahotkot - Darabi

- G4

Base Metal, bauxite, REE & lithium

- 18.

Andhra Pradesh

Anantpur and Kadapa

Parnapalle-

Lopatanutula

G4

- Lithium

- 19.

- Jharkhand

Giridih

- Gawan

- G4

- Li, Cs, REE and RM

- 20.

- Jharkhand

- Koderma

- Pihra

- G4

Li, Cs, REE and RM

21.    2021-

22 &

2022-

23

- Rajasthan

- Nagaur

- Mohangarh

- G3

- tungsten, lithium

- 22.

23.

- Chhattisgarh

Raigarh and Jashpur

Tamta,

Raghunathpur and Sureshpur

G4

- Lithium

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|   24. | Chhattisgarh      | Korba                       | Katghora-Rampur                                                | G3                   | Lithium                                                                  |
|-------|-------------------|-----------------------------|----------------------------------------------------------------|----------------------|--------------------------------------------------------------------------|
|    25 | Jharkhand Kodera  | Tilaiya                     | G4                                                             | Lithium, Caesium, RM | REE,                                                                     |
|    26 | Arunachal Pradesh | Tirap                       | Pullung, Paniduriya , Borduria and Kaimoi                      | G4                   | Lithium                                                                  |
|    27 | Nagaland          | Phek                        | Hutsu, Satuza and Phor                                         | G4                   | Lithium                                                                  |
|    28 | Meghalaya         | Ri-Bhoi                     | Amjong, Umtrai and Umlaber                                     | G4                   | REE, Lithium                                                             |
|    29 | Meghalaya         | East Garo Hills             | Williamnagar- Nengkhra                                         | G4                   | Lithium                                                                  |
|    30 | Meghalaya         | East Khasi Hills            | Mylliem and Lailynkhwir                                        | G4                   | Polymetallic- molybdenum, tungsten, REE, lithium and associated minerals |
|    31 | Meghalaya         | East Garo Hills             | Mangsang- Niangbrakithim                                       | G4                   | Sillimanite, Lithium                                                     |
|    32 | Jammu & Kashmir   | Reasi                       | Panasa - Dugga - Baldhanun - Chakar - Sangarmarg (Saro-da-Bas) | G4                   | Bauxite, REE, Lithium                                                    |
|    33 | Ladakh            | Leh                         | Tsokar, Pangong, Tsomorari, Kyagar and Kyun Tso                | G4                   | Lithium                                                                  |
|    34 | Rajasthan         | Udaipur                     | Khuna-Merpur- Pandibor                                         | G4                   | Tellurium, Lithium, Gold                                                 |
|    35 | Rajasthan         | Sirohi                      | Uttara-Balda                                                   | G4                   | Tungsten, Lithium                                                        |
|    36 | Rajasthan         | Nagaur                      | Pipaliya                                                       | G3                   | Tungsten, Lithium                                                        |
|    37 | Gujarat           | Banaskantha and Sabarkantha | Jodhsar- Unchidhanal                                           | G4                   | RM, Lithium, Caesium                                                     |
|    38 | Gujarat           | Banaskantha and Sabarkantha | Pathora-Digthali                                               | G4                   | RM, Lithium, Caesium                                                     |
|    39 | Rajasthan         | Nagaur                      | North-western extension of Rewat Hill                          | G2                   | Tungsten, Lithium                                                        |
|    40 | Rajasthan         | Nagaur                      | South-eastern extension of Rewat Hill                          | G2                   | Tungsten, Lithium                                                        |