Reappraisal of 75 Years of Exploration for Atomic Minerals in India and the Way Forward

Abstract

In India, Atomic Minerals Directorate for Exploration and Research (AMD), the oldest unit under the Department of Atomic Energy (DAE) is mandated with the exploration and augmentation of atomic mineral(s) resources of the country to support the Nuclear Power Programme (NPP) of India. AMD, till date have established four (04) generations of uranium metallogeny in India, distributed in 46 deposits and several other occurrences, major share of which are contributed by the globally unique, stratabound carbonate hosted, syn-diagenetic Tummalapalle Group of deposit (~59%), metamorphite type deposits along the Singhbhum Shear Zone (~21%), unconformity related deposits in northern part of Cuddapah Basin (~5%) and sandstone type deposits in Cretaceous Mahadek Basin (~6%). Besides these, metasomatite type deposits along the North Delhi Fold Belt (4%) and granite related-structurally controlled, high grade deposits in Bhima Basin (2%) along with some small hydrothermal/metamorphite/migmatite type deposits in Aravalli, Kotri-Dongargarh, Higher Himalaya belts and Chhotanagpur Granite Gneiss Complex contribute to the national inventory which stands at 3,76,000 tonne uranium oxide. AMD have stockpiled substantial quantities of Nb-Ta, Be and Li minerals needed for the NPP of India from prospective pegmatite belts in the country. AMD have established immense potential for REE mineralization in carbonatite complexes of Ambadungar in Gujarat and per-alkaline granite-rhyolite of Siwana Ring Complex, Barmer district, Rajasthan. Exploration along the coastal and riverine placers of the country has established 130 heavy mineral placer deposits with substantial thorium and REE resources. The progressive advancements by AMD through adaptation of integrated multidisciplinary exploration techniques coupled with major thrust in airborne/ground geophysics and expansion of state-of-the-art analytical facilities have facilitated systematic planning for future augmentation of atomic mineral(s) resources. Exploration inputs are envisaged to be intensified in the brownfield target areas for resource augmentation while R&D and phase-wise exploration inputs will be focused for developing the identified greenfield areas following a planned roadmap to ensure selfsufficiency in atomic mineral resources for sustained growth of the NPP to reach the target of net zero carbon emissions by 2070.