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LITHIUM DEPOSITS IN KARNATAKA

Preliminary survey shows deposits of Lithium in Mandya district of Karnataka.

IMPORTANT POINTS:

Preliminary surveys on surface and limited subsurface by Atomic Minerals Directorate for Exploration and Research (AMD) have shown presence of Lithium resources of 1,600 tonnes (inferred category) in the pegmatites of Marlagalla – Allapatna area, Mandya district, Karnataka.
The significance of these deposits may be established only after the completion of exploration in the entire area.
Subsequently, plan for commercial exploitation of the lithium deposits can commence after the technical, social and economic feasibility studies in the area.

IMPORTANCE OF LITHIUM DEPOSITS:

Lithium is a key element for new technologies and finds its use in ceramics, glass, telecommunication and aerospace industries.
The well-known uses of Lithium are in Lithium ion batteries, lubricating grease, high energy additive to rocket propellants, optical modulators for mobile phones and as convertor to tritium used as a raw material for thermonuclear reactions i.e. fusion.
The thermonuclear application makes Lithium as “Prescribed substance” under the Atomic Energy Act, 1962 which permits AMD for exploration of Lithium in various geological domains of the country.
Due to the continuously increasing demand of Lithium ion batteries, the requirement of Lithium has increased over the last few years.

PRESCRIBED SUBSTANCE:

According to the Atomic Energy Act, 1962, “Prescribed Substance” means any substance including any mineral which the Central Government may, by notification, prescribe, being a substance which in its opinion is or may be used for the production or use of atomic energy or research into matters connected therewith and includes uranium, plutonium, thorium, beryllium, deuterium or any of their respective derivatives or compounds or any other materials containing any of the aforesaid substances

Atomic Minerals Directorate for Exploration and Research (AMD):

The chief mandate of the AMD is to identify and evaluate uranium resources required for the successful implementation of the Atomic Energy programme of the country.
It is headquartered in Hyderabad and has regional offices in a few other cities.
It is under the Department of Atomic Energy (DAE), GOI.
AMD carries out geological exploration and discovery of mineral deposits required for the nuclear power programme.
It was established in 1948 and is the oldest unit of the DAE.
It was originally called Rare Minerals Survey Unit and then renamed twice before being named its current one in 1998.
Previously, it was also called ‘Raw Materials Division’ and ‘Atomic Minerals Division’.
AMD has been instrumental in locating Uranium resources in Singhbhum Shear Zone, Jharkhand; KPM (Domiasiat), Wahkut, Wahkyn, Meghalaya; Lambapur – Chitrial, Peddagattu, Telangana; Tummalapalle, Andhra Pradesh; Gogi, Karnataka and Rohil, Rajasthan.
AMD also has established vast resources of thorium in the coastal tracts of Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh and Odisha.
It has also extended its contribution towards the recovery of Rare Metals and Rare Earths elements.