Mineral Blocks: Unearthing treasures

The blocks have been identified in the offshore areas of Andhra Pradesh, Odisha, Maharashtra, Kerala and Tamil Nadu.

As many as 62 blocks of deposits of heavy mineral such as zirconium, titanium, thorium, tungsten and rare earth elements have been
found in India’s territorial waters.

The blocks have been identified in the offshore areas of Andhra Pradesh, Odisha, Maharashtra, Kerala and Tamil Nadu.

The Geological Survey India (GSI) carries out surveys in the Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) and Territorial Waters (TW) of India to assess the offshore mineral resources. TW is the belt of coastal water that extends up to 12 nautical miles (around 22 km) from the coast of a country. EEZ is a sea zone on which a country has special rights regarding exploration as well as the use of marine resources, including energy production from water and wind.

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Besides, GSI has identified silica sand within the TW off the Kerala coast, lime mud within the EEZ off the Gujarat and Andhra Pradesh coast, phosphatic sediments within the EEZ off Gujarat, Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu and Puducherry.

That apart, calcareous sand within the EEZ and TW off the Lakshadweep coast and Manganese encrustations/ micro nodules within the EEZ off the Lakshadweep coast have also been identified by GSI.

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