New Delhi: Union Minister of Mines, Coal and Parliamentary Affairs Pralhad Joshi Monday said 5.9 million tonnes of lithium ore.
In a written reply in the Rajya Sabha, Joshi said that the GSI carried out a G3 stage mineral exploration project during Field Season 2020- 21 and 2021-22 in Salal-Haimna areas of Reasi district of Jammu and Kashmir and estimated an inferred resource (G3) of 5.9 million tonnes of lithium ore.
He said that the report had been handed over to the J&K government.
Joshi said that the GSI proposes to carry out more exploration activities in J&K for identifying lithium resources.
“The estimated value of lithium in J&K will be estimated on completion of further exploration,” he said.
Geological Survey of India (GSI) generates baseline geoscience data through mapping, for example geological, geochemical, geophysical, which is prerequisite for identifying the potential area for systematic mineral exploration.
Based on the mapping data, GSI carries out systematic mineral exploration activities for various major mineral commodities including lithium.
In part of J&K, as a follow up of lithium exploration in Salal-Haimna areas of Reasi district, GSI has taken up another reconnaissance G4 stage exploration programme on lithium and associated mineral in Panasa, Dugga, Baldhanun, Chakar, Sangarmarg (Saro-da-Bas) area of Reasi district during current field season 2022-23 and the work is in progress.
Based on the mapping outcome more exploration programmes on various mineral commodities including lithium would be taken up in the future in different parts of the country including J&K.
