India's Mineral Potential: Present Status and Future Trends

Abstract

This paper outlines the potential of India's mineral resources, which comprise a wide range of deposit types scattered across the subcontinent, within an area of 3,287,590 km2. The geological environment is extremely diverse, ranging from extensive Archean cratonic nuclei, with large areas of high-grade metamorphic rocks of lower-crustal provenance, to Proterozoic sedimentary basins and mobile belts, to Tertiary mountain ranges and Quaternary surficial deposits. The mineral endowment of these disparate regions includes world-class deposits of iron, manganese, and chromium, plus base metals (copper, lead, zinc), precious metals, and a spectrum of nonmetallic resources from bauxite to gemstones. India is a major exporter of Fe ore, Mn ore, chromite, mica, and granite. The Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) around the shores of India totals 2,014,900 km2, 61% the size of the landmass, holding additional potential for commodities such as heavy mineral sands (monazite, rutile, and other materials) and Mn and Co-rich ferromanganese nodules and crusts. A selective overview of India's mineral potential is provided with reference to 22 metals and groups of metals and 6 non-metallic commodity groups, excluding fuels. These are Cu, Zn, Pb, and Ag; Fe, Ti, V, and Mn; Cr, Ni, Co, and PGE; Au; Sn, W, and Mo; Nb, Ta, and Li; bauxite; U, Th, and the REE; barite, garnet, and graphite; and diamonds and colored gemstones. The effectiveness of the domestic mineral industry in locating and exploiting these resources varies greatly among commodities. Some sectors where the country was once a noted producer, such as diamonds and gold, have been eclipsed by major discoveries in other lands and by stagnant domestic output. In some cases, such as gold and nickel, known reserves and output are small compared to both the area of prospective terrain and high domestic demand (Table 1). Some indication is provided of likely future trends, in view of the Government of India's current initiatives to entice foreign investment in many sectors. This recently developed open policy extends to exploration and mining ventures, construction of power generation units, and modernization of existing industrial plant, transport, and communications. With an eye on this mineral-economic context, we present a synthesis of the issues faced by the mineral sector as it enters the 21st century.