Lok Sabha Question No. 328 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2015-07-22
Subject: Rare Beach Sand Minerals
Ministry: ATOMIC ENERGY
Asked by: PRAHLAD SINGH PATEL

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA DEPARTMENT OF ATOMIC ENERGY

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.328

TO BE ANSWERED ON 22.07.2015

## RARE BEACH SAND MINERALS

## 328. SHRI PRAHLAD SINGH PATEL:

Will the PRIME MINISTER be pleased to state:

- (a) whether  the  Indian  Rare  Earths  Limited  (IREL)  is  a  big  partner  in  enhancing atomic energy;
- (b) if so, whether the Government is aware of the above organisation's lease  related dispute in Tamil Nadu and if so, the details thereof and the action  taken in this regard;
- (c) the  details  of  the  rare  beach  sand  minerals  mined  by  IREL  which  are  useful  for atomic energy;
- (d) whether  the  Government  is  satisfied  with  the  working  of  IREL  and  if  not,  the reasons therefor and the steps taken in this regard; and
- (e) the details of the various parts of the country where rare minerals are found?

## ANSWER

THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR PERSONNEL, PUBLIC GRIEVANCES & PENSIONS AND PRIME MINISTER'S OFFICE (Dr. JITENDRA SINGH) :

- (a) Yes, Sir.
- (b) Yes,  Sir.  The  various  difficulties  faced  by  Indian  Rare  Earths  Limited  (IREL)  in  its plant at Manavalakurichi in Tamil Nadu include non-renewal of mining leases by the State Government over the issue of surface right, non-issue of fresh Mining Lease (ML)  against  application  of  Indian  Rare  Earths  Limited,  difficulties  in  obtaining environmental  clearances  for  the  existing  operations  of  IREL  in  Tamil  Nadu,  etc. Department  of  Atomic  Energy  is  continuously  taking  necessary  actions  for  early resolution of the issues with the Government of Tamil Nadu.
- (c) Beach sand minerals are a suite of seven minerals viz. ilmenite, rutile, leucoxene titanium bearing minerals, zircon - a zirconium bearing mineral, sillimanite - a silicate of  aluminium, garnet -  iron-aluminium  silicate,  and  monazite  which  is  a  phosphatic mineral  of  thorium,  uranium  and  rare  earths.  Of  the  above,  monazite  is  the  only commercial source of rare earths in India. Monazite also contains thorium & uranium

which are prescribed substances as per the Atomic Energy Act 1962 and are useful for atomic energy.

- (d) Yes, Sir.
- (e) The mineral monazite occurs associated with other heavy minerals in the beach sand deposits  along  the  coastal  tracts,  is  the  major  resource  for  rare  earths  in  India. Atomic Minerals Directorate for Exploration and Research (AMD), a constituent unit under the Department of Atomic Energy, has estimated the presence of 11.93 million tonnes of monazite resources in the beach sand mineral placer deposits along the coastal tracts of India. Monazite in general, contains about 55 - 60% total Rare Earth Oxide.   The state-wise resources of in-situ monazite established by AMD as on June 2015 are as follows:

| State          |   Monazite (Million tonne) |
|----------------|----------------------------|
| Odisha         |                       2.41 |
| Andhra Pradesh |                       3.72 |
| Tamil Nadu     |                       2.46 |
| Kerala         |                       1.90 |
| West Bengal    |                       1.22 |
| Jharkhand      |                       0.22 |
| Total          |                      11.93 |

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