Lok Sabha Question No. 2649 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2024-08-07
Subject: Tantalum Deposits
Ministry: MINES
Asked by: Thiru Dr. S Jagathratchakan

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF MINES

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.2649 ANSWERED ON 07.08.2024

## TANTALUM DEPOSITS

2649.   SHRI S. JAGATHRATCHAKAN

Will the Minister of MINES be pleased to state:

(a) whether the Government concurs with the view that further surveys are needed to assess the extent of the Tantalum deposits;

(b) if so, the details of the initiatives proposed to be taken by the Government keeping in mind that this rare metal, crucial in electronics, could alleviate supply chain issues and spur economic development; and

(c) if not, the reasons therefor?

## ANSWER

## THE MINISTER OF COAL AND MINES (SHRI G. KISHAN REDDY)

(a) & (b): The Central Government has notified a list of 24 minerals including Tantalum, in  Part  D  of  the  First  Schedule  of  the  MMDR Act,  1957  as  Critical  and  Strategic minerals.

The Geological Survey of India (GSI), an attached office of the Ministry of Mines, is giving  special  emphasis  on  exploration  of  strategic  and  critical  minerals  including Tantalum. From field season 2021-22 to 2024-25, GSI has taken up 6 projects on exploration for Tantalum and associated minerals in different parts of the country. The details are as follows:

|   Sl. No. | Field season   | State             | District                         | Name of Mineral Block / Area / Belt   | UNFC Stage   | Mineral Commodity                                             |
|-----------|----------------|-------------------|----------------------------------|---------------------------------------|--------------|---------------------------------------------------------------|
|         1 | 2020-21        | Gujarat           | SabarkanthaNadri                 |                                       | G3           | Tin, Tungsten, Tantalum, Niobium                              |
|         2 | 2021-22        | Arunachal Pradesh | East Kameng                      | Seppa                                 | G4           | Tantalum, Cesium                                              |
|         3 | 2023-24        | Rajasthan         | Alwar                            | Dadikar, Harsora and Khairthal        | G4           | REE, RM, Tungsten, Tin, Niobium, Beryllium, Tantalum, Hafnium |
|         4 | 2024-25        | Chhattisgarh      | Gaurella- Pendra- Murmur & Korba | Uran- Kotmi Khurd                     | G4           | Niobium, Tantalum, REE, lithium                               |

|   5 | Bihar     | Jamui       | Kairi-Jhura- Murbaro   | G4   | Lithium, Niobium, Tantalum and associated strategic minerals (REE, Rare Metals)   |
|-----|-----------|-------------|------------------------|------|-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
|   6 | Karnataka | Chitradurga | Chikjajur- Janakal     | G4   | Lithium, Cesium, Niobium, Tantalum, Tungsten                                      |

Further,  GSI has established a Niobium-Tantalum resource of 16.42 million tonnes with average grade of 144ppm (Nb+Ta)2O5 at 100 ppm cut off in Rewat Hill block, Nagaur district, Rajasthan.

In  order  to  strengthen  the  supply  chain  of  critical  minerals  including  Tantalum, elimination of customs duty on Tantalum ores & concentrates and unwrought Tantalum have been announced in Union Budget 2024-25.

(c): In view of (a) & (b) above, question does not arise.

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