State Mineral Policy on card
Source: Hueiyen News Service
Imphal, April 23 2011:
A State Mineral Policy which will focus on exploration of mineral resources in the state and giving support to mineral based industries is on the card, said an official source of State Commerce & Industries Department today.
The new policy will keep the mineral based industries separate from other industries, the source added.
According to a report of the Geological Survey of India (GSI), Manipur has mineral deposits in 58 percent of the total area of 22,327 square km.
An exploration team of the state Geology and Mining Division had already found limestone deposits in Phungyar Sub Division of Ukhrul district and many areas of Chandel district.
According to the report, the areas in the two districts has a probable reserve of 3.881 million tonnes and a possible reserve of 18.412 million tonnes of limestone deposits.
Chromite deposits were also found at around 25 areas in both Ukhrul and Chandel district with a total probable reserve of 0.38 million tonnes.
Chromite is a metallurgical mineral.
Moreover there are around 74,000 PPS of Nickel deposits in Gamnom and Ningthi of Ukhrul district.
There have been a lot of geochemical acitivity in Khudengthabi and Moreh area of Chandel district according to GSI, it added.
The exploration team is also doing preliminary investigations in Singcha of Ukhrul and other parts of Chandel with a hope to find Serpentinites which is also known as green marbles.
Soapstone, Stealite and Nickel.
Platinum Group Elements (PGE) and Platinum Group Metals (PGM) have also been found abundantly in Nungbi of Ukhrul.
Samples of the PGE and PGM have been sent to GSI, Kolkata for necessary tests.
Another exploration team is also studying to find if copper mineral deposits are found in Nampisa area, according to the source.
State Geology and Mining Division has also granted Prospecting License to ONGC to explore if there are petroleum based mineral deposits in Churachandpur and Jiribam areas.
The state government is also set to give Reconnaissance Permit and Mining License to intending private firms to do exploration work and mining work in the Ophiolite Belt, the source added.