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Mineral Exploration Corporation Limited (MECL), a public sector unit of the Ministry of Coal and Mines, during 2003-04 continued its exploration for energy minerals i.e. Coal and Lignite on behalf of Department of Coal. Exploration for copper, bauxite, iron ore, manganese, chromite and ferrosilicon grade quartzite was also continued in different parts of the country.
COAL : Exploration for coal continued, on behalf of the Coal Department with priority on regional exploration programme. Against a target of 46,200 meters (m) for the last financial year, 44,144 m was achieved representing 96 per cent. Exploration for coal on contractual basis involving 21,000 m of drilling, at Lalgarh in Jharkhand and Jhamkhani & Nakia in Chhattisgarh and Utkal-F in Orissa was taken up in November 2003 on behalf of M/s. Central Mine Planning Design Institute and a total of 21,758 m of drilling was successfully completed during 2003-04.
LIGNITE : The priority regional exploration programme on behalf of Department of Coal for lignite exploration continued in the states of Tamil Nadu and Rajasthan. Against 58,800 m of drilling allocated, a total of 59,398 m of drilling has been completed during 2003-04. Lignite exploration at Kasanu and Sonari blocks, Rajasthan on behalf of M/s. RSMML and at Mine-II and Mine-III, Neyveli, Tamil Nadu, on behalf of M/s. NLC was taken up and a total of 9,367 m of drilling was completed.
COPPER & MULTI-METALS: Detailed exploration under promotional programme for copper at Bhagal and multi-metal at Devtalai, Rajasthan on behalf of Department of Mines was concluded, where a total of 2,525 m of drilling has been carried out during the year. The assessment work at Malanjkhand (West) was completed and total of 402 m of drilling has been carried out. Detailed exploration for copper at Thanewasana, Maharashtra, was taken up with 763 m of drilling and associated geological activities.
BAUXITE: Exploration for bauxite at Lanjigarh, on behalf of M/s. STERLITE and at Panchpatmalli, on behalf of M/s. NALCO was taken up and concluded. A total of 10,071 m of drilling and 79 m of pitting was carried out during the year. Exploration for bauxite at Serengdag, Jharkhand, was commenced and till March 2004, a total of 1,927 m of drilling and 45 m of pitting was completed.
URANIUM: Mine development activities on behalf of M/s. UCIL was continued at Jaduguda, Narwapahar and Turamdih and commenced at Bagjata in Jharkhand. So far, a total of 2,985 m of mine development work has been carried out during the year.
IRON ORE: Exploratory drilling for iron ore at Kesari and Asniye, Maharashtra was taken up and a total of 995 m has been completed.
MANGANESE ORE: Exploration for manganese ore at Joda area on behalf of M/s. TISCO was taken up and a total of 5,842 m of drilling was completed.
COAL BED METHANE: Slim hole drilling for CBM investigation at Kalidaspur on behalf of M/s. GEECL, at North Karanpura and Bokaro on behalf of M/s. ONGC and Sanchor was taken up and a total of 7,426 m of drilling has been completed.
HARD ROCK: During 2003-04, a total of 5,389 m of hard rock drilling has been carried out at Rohil-Ghateshwar and Rohil-Central blocks in Rajasthan.
Significant findings based on MECL's endeavours :
A total of 787 million tonnes of non-coking coal reserves and 97 million tonnes of semi coking coal reserves have been established in the states of Chhattisgarh and Andhra Pradesh.
946.75 million tonnes of lignite reserves with average Calorific Value of 2500 - 3500 K.cal/Kg. established at Sindhari block, Barmer sector in the state of Rajasthan and 166 million tonnes of lignite reserves with average CV of 3000 K. Cal/Kg. at Hodu block, Rajasthan.
1.78 lakh tonnes of Rate metal ore with 0.433 per cent cesium, 0.26 per cent lithium and 0.102 per cent rubidium were established at Beku block, West Bengal.
1.96 million tonnes of copper ore with 1.067 per cent Cu and 722 Kg. of contained gold metal was established at Devtalai multi-metal deposit, Rajasthan.
76 million tonnes of bauxite reserves at Lanjigarh bauxite deposit, Oriss were established.
5.53 million tonnes of copper ore reserves with 0.76 per cent Cu at Bhagal copper deposit, Rajasthan were established.
New Delhi: Kartika 10, 1926 / November 01, 2004
Ministry of Coal & Mines
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