State Mineral Policy on cards, deposits of Platinum Group Element detected at Nungbi
Source: Hueiyen News Service

Imphal, June 18 2012: With a view to facilitate mineral exploration process and develop Mineral based Industries in the state, the Government of Manipur is all set to institute a State Mineral Policy very soon.

According to reliable sources in the Department of Commerce and Industries, the state government has decided to institute a State Mineral Policy considering the need to promote and develop mineral exploration and mineral based industries and also to encourage all those individuals and groups who are interested in the field.

The proposed State Mineral Policy would be separate from the existing Industrial and Investment Policy of Manipur, 2011, sources disclosed.

Sources further revealed that in accordance to a survey conducted by Geological Survey of India, 58 percent of the total geological area of 22,327 sq km in Manipur is mineral rich area.

The Geology and Mining Division made a survey of areas in the state where mineral deposits are highly prevalent and found rich deposits of minerals in Phungyar sub division and Meiring village under Ukhrul district and also at Kwatha and some other places in Chandel district.

It is said that there are at least 3.449 tonnes of probable reserve million and 18.413 tonnes of possible reserve million of mineral deposits in these surveyed areas.

Chromites deposits in 25 places of Ukhrul and Chandel district to the tune of around 0.38 tonnes probable reserve million have also been detected during the survey, in addition to Nickel deposits of around 74,000 PPM in Gamnom and Ningthel areas of Ukhrul district, sources said.

Furthermore, sources said that preliminary investigations have been carried out in Ukhrul and Chandel districts by the State Geology and Mining Division for possible deposits of serpentinites Green Marble.

The investigation also found deposits of Soapstone/Stealite in Nungbi village under Ukhrul district.

The presence of Platinum Group Element and Platinum Group Metal and Nickel were also found in Nungbi village.

Samples of the Platinum Group Element and Platinum Group Metal have been sent to Kolkata for laboratory testing.

Further investigations would be conducted for possible deposits of copper minerals in Nampisa under Ukhrul district, sources added.

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