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Geological Survey of India (GSI), a subordinate organization of the Ministry of Mines, has taken up in almost all the states of the country geochemical mapping on a systematic grid pattern for creating multi-elemental database and locating geochemical anomalies for varied applications in the field of metallogenesis, mineral exploration, resource estimation, soil fertility, human and animal health having a great bearing on socio-economic planning and development.
During 2004-05 (upto December, 2004), an area of 13,876 sq. km. was covered under the National Geochemical Mapping Programme. During April 2002 - December 2004, of the Xth Plan period, a total of 53,310 sq. km. has been covered under this programme. Twenty-nine programmes on geochemical mapping in different states under various regions have been taken up and three workshops were orgnised.
Geochemical mapping serves as an aid to mineral exploration, soil fertility assessment, human and animal health, establishing valid environmental baseline and understanding the chemistry of the environment. The country, which has a total land area of 3.28 million sq. km., is yet to be mapped geochemically. Hardly 0.3 per cent of the land area has been systematically geochemically mapped and that too with a mineral exploration bias. Local and detailed scale mapping has been carried out in some areas for prospecting in identified mineralised belt and for specific environmental purpose. During the Xth Plan, National Geochemical Mapping Programme has been initiated in the country, which requires sampling and analysis of stream sediment, soil, stream water and humus.
DS/SCH
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