Lok Sabha Question No. 2626 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2024-08-07
Subject: Mineral Exploration in Andhra Pradesh
Ministry: MINES
Asked by: Shri Balashowry Vallabhaneni

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF MINES

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.2626

## ANSWERED ON 07.08.2024

## MINERAL EXPLORATION IN ANDHRA PRADESH

2626.   SHRI BALASHOWRY VALLABHANENI:

Will the Minister of MINES be pleased to state:

(a)  whether it  is  true  that  Geological  Survey  of  India  (GSI)  has  conducted mineral exploration  in  Guntur,  Vizianagaram, Anantapur,  Chittoor,  Kadapa,  Srikakulam  and Nellore during the last three years and found various minerals such as Manganese, Tungsten, Baryte, Lead, Zinc, Gold, etc.;

- (b) if so, the details thereof; and

(c) the details regarding the status of extracting those minerals?

## ANSWER

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

(a) & (b): Geological Survey of India (GSI) has taken up 62 nos. of mineral exploration projects  in  Guntur,  Vizianagaram,  Anantapur,  Chittoor,  Kadapa,  Srikakulam  and Nellore  during  last  three  years  and  current  year  for  mineral  commodities  such  as Manganese, Tungsten, Baryte, Lead, Zinc, Gold, Phosphorite etc. The details are as at Annexure-I.

Since  the  amendment  to  the  MMDR Act,  2015,  GSI  has  established  resource  for mineral commodities such as Graphite, Manganese, Diamond, Lead, Zinc, Cadmium, Silver, Cobalt, Copper, Tungsten and Limestone in different parts of Andhra Pradesh including the above said districts and the details are given in Annexure-II.

(c) : As regards the status of extraction of minerals, there are a total of 376 mines of major  minerals  in  the  State  of Andhra  Pradesh. The  mineral-wise  details  of  these mines are as follows:

| Mineral              | Non-Working   | Working   |   Grand Total |
|----------------------|---------------|-----------|---------------|
| Garnet               | 4             |           |             4 |
| Gold                 |               | 1         |             1 |
| Iron Ore             | 41            | 13        |            54 |
| LIME SHELL           | 3             |           |             3 |
| Limestone            | 149           | 70        |           219 |
| Manganese Ore        | 18            | 16        |            34 |
| MOULDING SAND        | 2             |           |             2 |
| SEMI PRECIOUS STONES | 13            |           |            13 |
| Vermiculite          | 40            | 6         |            46 |
| Grand Total          | 270           | 106       |           376 |

Further,  the  Major  Mineral  Production  (Quantity  &  Value)  in  the  State  of  Andhra Pradesh is as follows:

(Value in Rs'000)

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|                |                  | 2021-22     | 2021-22   | 2022-23 (P)   | 2022-23 (P)   | 2023-24 (P)   | 2023-24 (P)   |
|----------------|------------------|-------------|-----------|---------------|---------------|---------------|---------------|
| MINERAL        | Unit             | Productio n | Value     | Productio n   | Value         | Productio n   | Value         |
| Gold Ore       | Tonne            | 856         | 0         | 31028         | 0             | 33687         | 0             |
| Gold Primary   | Kg               |             |           | 0             | 32            | 5             | 9439          |
| Iron Ore       | Thoussan d Tonne | 319         | 237857    | 137           | 96468         | 125           | 103070        |
| Limestone      | Thousand Tonne   | 50278       | 1086561 8 | 52870         | 1201484 9     | 60168         | 1296764 9     |
| Manganes e Ore | Tonne            | 204002      | 1115138   | 213790        | 1310335       | 281637        | 1686774       |
| Vermiculit e   | Tonne            | 2370        | 1481      | 2303          | 1610          | 1127          | 780           |

(P): Data is Provisional

*****

The details of mineral exploration by GSI in Andhra Pradesh during the last 3 years (field season 2021-22 to 2023-24) and current year 2024-25

| S.No.          | Field Season                                                                                          | District                              | Name of Mineral Block / Area/ Belt UNFC Stage   | Mineral Commodity                 |
|----------------|-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|---------------------------------------|-------------------------------------------------|-----------------------------------|
| 1. 6. 7. 8. 9. | Srikakulam and Vizianagaram Anantapur Anantapur Kadapa Kadapa Anantpur and Kadapa Anantapur Anantapur | Batuva-Kondadadi                      | G4                                              | Manganese                         |
| 2.             |                                                                                                       | Kanaganapalle - Dharmavaram           | G4                                              | Diamond                           |
| 3.             |                                                                                                       | Charupalle- Kalasamudram-Batrepalle   | G4                                              | Molybdenum, Gold                  |
| 4.             |                                                                                                       | Pullampet-Vattaluru                   | G4                                              | Phosphorite                       |
| 5.             |                                                                                                       | Bhagampalle- Kasinagaram              | G4                                              | Gold, Rare Earth Elements (REE)   |
| 1. 6. 7. 8. 9. |                                                                                                       | Parnapalle-Lopatanutula               | G4                                              | Lithium                           |
| 1. 6. 7. 8. 9. |                                                                                                       | CR Palle-Indukurupalle                | G4                                              | Molybdenum, Gold                  |
| 1. 6. 7. 8. 9. | 2021-22                                                                                               | Varaddayakonda- Krisnagiri-Akkampale  | G4                                              | Gold                              |
| 1. 6. 7. 8. 9. | Nellore                                                                                               | Chinna Varimadugu- Kanduravaripalle   | G4                                              | Molybdenum, REE, Rare Metals (RM) |
| 10.            | Srikakulam                                                                                            | Palavalasa and Laxmipuram             | G3                                              | Manganese                         |
| 11.            | Vizianagaram                                                                                          | Gurla-Madhupada                       | G4                                              | Manganese, molybdenum             |
| 12.            | Anantapur                                                                                             | Obaganapalli- Mushtivarlamanda        | G4                                              | REE, RM                           |
| 13.            | Nellore and Kadapa                                                                                    | Adurupalli and Dasarapalli            | G4                                              | Basemetal                         |
| 14.            | Nellore                                                                                               | Masayapeta                            | G2                                              | Copper                            |
| 15.            | YSR Kadapa                                                                                            | Uppaluru                              | G3                                              | Cobalt, Nickel, Copper            |
| 16.            | Chittoor                                                                                              | Chillamakulapalle - Narsimharajupuram | G4                                              | REE, RM                           |
| 17.            | Anantapur                                                                                             | Pamidi-Singanamala                    | G4                                              | Diamond                           |
| 18.            | Nellore                                                                                               | Jangalapalle                          | G3                                              | Basemetal                         |
| 19.            | Kadapa                                                                                                | Khajipeta-Nandyalampeta               | G4                                              | Phosphorite                       |
| 20.            | Kadapa                                                                                                | Chennur                               | G4                                              | Phosphorite                       |
| 21.            | Vizianagaram                                                                                          | Ginnam and Lingalavalasa              | G4                                              | Manganese, Cobalt                 |
| 22.            | Vizianagaram                                                                                          | Gumpamkonda                           | G2                                              | Manganese, Cobalt                 |
| 23.            | 2022-23 Vizianagaram                                                                                  | Parasam-Garudabilli                   | G4                                              | Graphite, Manganese               |
| 24.            | Anantapur                                                                                             | Balepalyam                            | G3                                              | Tungsten                          |
| 25.            | YSR Kadapa                                                                                            | Jaukulapalle                          | G2                                              | Basemetal                         |
| 26.            | Nellore                                                                                               | Kondakuru-Kondagunta- Golapalle       | G4                                              | Basemetal                         |
| 27.            | Srikakulam                                                                                            | Garraju-Cheepurupalli                 | G2                                              | Manganese, Cobalt                 |
| 28.            | Vizianagaram                                                                                          | Gadabavalasa and Mandiravalasa        | G3                                              | Manganese, Cobalt                 |
| 29.            | Nellore                                                                                               | Anantapuram-Kesavaram                 | G4                                              | Gold, Silver, Basemetal           |

| 30.         | Vizianagaram                               | Garividi                                              | G4   | REE, Manganese           |
|-------------|--------------------------------------------|-------------------------------------------------------|------|--------------------------|
| 31.         | Nellore                                    | Ayyagaripalem- Palicherlapadu                         | G4   | REE, RM                  |
| 32.         | Tumkur and Anantapur                       | Southern extension of the Wajrakarur Kimberlite field | G4   | Diamond                  |
| 33.         | Nellore                                    | Masayapeta                                            | G2   | Basemetal                |
| 34.         | Vizianagaram                               | Gadabavalasa                                          | G2   | Manganese                |
| 35.         | Vizianagaram                               | Palavalasa                                            | G2   | Manganese                |
| 36.         | Chittoor                                   | Rajagollapalli                                        | G3   | Gold                     |
| 37.         | Vizianagaram                               | Manapuram and Marrivalasa                             | G4   | Manganese                |
| 38.         | Vizianagaram, Anakapalli and Visakhapatnam | Kantakapalle and Sunkarapalem                         | G4   | Manganese                |
| 39.         | Srikakulam                                 | Madduvalasa-Ungarada                                  | G4   | Manganese                |
| 40.         | Anantapur                                  | Kambaduru-Aiparsipalli                                | G4   | REE, RM                  |
| 41.         | Anantapur                                  | Venkatampalli-Mutssukota                              | G4   | Baryte, Lithium          |
| 42.         | YSR Kadapa                                 | Rajupalem-Tummaluru                                   | G4   | Baryte, Lithium          |
| 2023-24 43. | Kadapa                                     | Idugupalle                                            | G4   | Baryte, Lithium          |
| 44.         | Chittoor and Annamayya                     | Sorakayalapeta- Tummanaguntapalle                     | G4   | REE                      |
| 45.         | Nellore                                    | Podilikonda and Kanigiri                              | G4   | REE, RM                  |
| 46.         | Bellary and Ananthapur                     | Chellakuriki                                          | G4   | Gold                     |
| 47.         | Guntur                                     | Bellamkonda and Sattenapalli                          | G4   | Diamond                  |
| 48.         | Tumkur and Anantapur                       | Puravara- Byalya- Holvanahalli                        | G4   | Diamond                  |
| 49.         | Tumkur and Anantapur                       | Madhugiri - Kesturu                                   | G4   | Diamond                  |
| 50.         | YSR (Kadapa)                               | Jaukulapalle                                          | G2   | Lead, Zinc               |
| 51.         | Kurnool                                    | Chetlamallapuram North                                | G2   | Copper                   |
| 52.         | Kadapa                                     | Appanapalle                                           | G3   | Limestone                |
| 53.         | Vizianagaram                               | Badangi-Uttaravilli                                   | G4   | Manganese, REE           |
| 54.         | Srikakulam                                 | Etcherla- Ponduru                                     | G4   | Manganese, Vanadium, REE |
| 55.         | Anantpur                                   | Venkatampalli                                         | G4   | Gold                     |
| 56.         | Vizianagaram and Alluri Sitaramraju        | Korlam-Budatanapalli                                  | G4   | Graphite, Manganese      |
| 2024-25 57. | Vizianagaram and Srikakulam                | Devaravalasa-Niddam                                   | G4   | Manganese, REE           |
| 58.         | Y.S.R Kadapa                               | Murrichintala- Venkatapuram                           | G4   | Lithium                  |
| 59.         | Vizianagaram and Parvathipuram             | Tudi-Rayavalasa                                       | G4   | Manganese                |
| 60.         | Nellore                                    | Kottapalem-Chamadala                                  | G4   | REE                      |
| 61.         | Anantapur                                  | Chandrapalli-Peddapaya                                | G4   | Barite                   |
| 62.         | Vijayanagaram & Visakhapatnam              | Chelluru-Savaravilli                                  | G4   | REE                      |

## Details of mineral resources augmented by GSI since amendment of MMDR Act 2015 in Andhra Pradesh (at various cut-offs and grades)

avgMn.

|   Sl. No. | District      | Field seaso n   | Commodity         | Block                                                                | UNF C Stag e   | Resource (in Million Tonne {MT})                                                                     | Grade                                             |
|-----------|---------------|-----------------|-------------------|----------------------------------------------------------------------|----------------|------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|---------------------------------------------------|
|         1 | East Godavari | 2016- 17        | Graphite          | Chinnagalikond a                                                     | G3             | 0.43881 MT                                                                                           | at 10% FC                                         |
|         2 | Guntur        | 2016- 17        | Limestone         | Tadutla Block                                                        | G2             | 29.73 MT                                                                                             | 42% CaO                                           |
|         3 | Kurnool       | 2016- 17        | Limestone         | CAK Block                                                            | G2             | 130.64 MT                                                                                            | >42% CaO                                          |
|         4 | Vizianaga ram | 2017- 18        | Manganese         | Devada block                                                         | G2             | 1.3 MT (southern part) 5.22 MT (northern part)                                                       | 18.84% avgMn. 17.16% avgMn.                       |
|         5 | Vizianaga ram | 2019- 20        | Manganese (Mn)    | Solipikonda- Gumpamkonda (Solipikonda )                              | G3             | Manganese ore: 0.06MT                                                                                | 18.70% Mn                                         |
|         6 | Anantapu r    | 2019- 20        | Diamond           | Penna Ahobilam Kimberlite (P- 17), Wajrakarur Kimberlite Field (WKF) | G3             | Diamond: 3560 carat                                                                                  | 0.91 cpht                                         |
|         7 | Vizianaga ram | 2020- 21        | manganese         | Jaggarajupeta                                                        | G3             | 0.10 MT (Eastern Sector in 332) 0.19MT (Western Sector in 333)                                       | 12.68% Mn 11.94% Mn                               |
|         8 | Srikakula m   | 2022- 23        | manganese         | Garraju- Cheepurupalli                                               | G2             | CS Method - 2.02 MT LVS method - 2.09 MT                                                             | 13.79% Mn 13.92% Mn                               |
|         9 | Vizianaga ram | 2022- 23        | Manganese, Cobalt | Gumpamkonda                                                          | G2             | Manganese: CS Method - 1.16 MT LVS method - 1.40 MT Cobalt: CS method - 0.51 MT LVS method - 0.63 MT | 13.28% Mn 13.31% Mn 360 ppm Cobalt 360 ppm Cobalt |
|        10 | East Godavari | 2021- 22        | Graphite          | Burugubanda                                                          | G2             | CS method - 0.80 MT LV section method - 0.71 MT                                                      | 9.78%; 9.78%                                      |

|   11 | YSR Kadapa    | 2022- 23            | Lead, Zinc, Cadmium & silver   | Jaukulapalle   | G2   | Lead + Zinc: By Cross section method - 0.99 MT 0.70 MT By LV section method - 1.22 MT 0.93 MT Cadmium: By cross section method - 0.42 MT Silver: By cross section method - 0.69 MT   | 7.57% 9.37% 8.04% 9.52% 162.58 ppm 11.23 ppm   |
|------|---------------|---------------------|--------------------------------|----------------|------|--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|------------------------------------------------|
|   12 | Nellore       | 2021- 22 & 2022- 23 | Copper (Cu)                    | Masayapeta     | G2   | Cu: By cross section method - 1.54 MT By LV section method - 1.65 MT                                                                                                                 | 0.43% Cu 0.43% Cu                              |
|   13 | Nellore       | 2022- 23            | Copper                         | Jangalapalle   | G3   | Cu: By cross section method - 0.193 MT By LV section method - 0.247 MT                                                                                                               | 0.24% of 0.24%                                 |
|   14 | Anantapu r    | 2022- 23            | Tungsten                       | Balepalyam     | G3   | cross section method - 0.079 MT By LVS method - 0.0778 MT                                                                                                                            | 0.09% 0.09%                                    |
|   15 | Vizianaga ram | 2021- 22            | Manganese, Cobalt              | Laxmipuram     | G3   | Manganese: By cross- section method -0.18 MT By L-V section method- 0.16 MT Cobalt: By cross section method- 0.03 MT By L-V section method - 0.02 MT                                 | 16.05% 16.01% 598.93 ppm 588.25 ppm            |