Synopsis
The Ministry of Mines has reclassified barytes, felspar, mica, and quartz as major minerals to facilitate the extraction of critical minerals. This decision aims to boost the mining industry and enhance the recovery of essential resources for various technologies.Key Takeaways
- Barytes, felspar, mica, and quartz have been designated as major minerals.
- This change allows for better extraction of critical minerals.
- The transition is part of the National Critical Mineral Mission.
- Lease durations for existing operations will be extended to 50 years.
- Revenue from these mines will continue to support state governments.
New Delhi, Feb 21 (NationPress) The Ministry of Mines declared on Friday that it has reclassified barytes, felspar, mica, and quartz from minor minerals to the major minerals category, facilitating the extraction of critical minerals from mines.
Quartz, felspar, and mica are present in pegmatite rocks, which serve as significant sources of numerous critical minerals like beryl, lithium, niobium, tantalum, molybdenum, tin, titanium, and tungsten. These minerals are essential in various modern technologies, including those for electronics, electric vehicles, defense, renewable energy, and healthcare.
When leases for quartz, felspar, and mica are issued as minor mineral leases, leaseholders often do not report the presence of critical minerals or focus on extracting them. Their primary aim is to utilize these minerals for construction and the production of glass and ceramics. As a result, critical minerals like lithium and beryl remain unreported and unextracted, according to a statement from the Ministry of Mines.
Moreover, baryte has a multitude of industrial uses, including oil and gas drilling, electronics, television screens, rubber, glass, ceramics, paint, radiation shielding, and medical applications. It is instrumental in creating high-density concrete to block X-ray emissions in hospitals, power stations, and laboratories. Baryte typically occurs as concretions and fillings in limestone and dolostone and is found alongside antimony, cobalt, copper, lead, manganese, and silver ores. Mining baryte often involves the simultaneous extraction of iron ore, as these minerals are located in pocket-type deposits that cannot be mined separately.
This initiative follows the Union Cabinet's recent endorsement of the National Critical Mineral Mission on January 29. This mission aims to explore and mine critical minerals domestically, including recovering these minerals from other mineral mines, overburden, and tailings.
Recognizing the significance of these minerals, the Inter-Ministerial Committee on the Mines & Minerals Sector, chaired by NITI Aayog member V. K. Saraswat, recommended the transition of these minerals from minor to major minerals. Once classified as major minerals, it is anticipated that exploration and scientific mining of these vital minerals will increase, as stated.
The reclassification will not negatively impact the lease durations of existing leases. As major minerals, the lease term will extend to 50 years from the date of issuance or until the renewal period concludes, whichever is later, in accordance with Section 8A of the MMDR Act, 1957.
These mines will gradually register with the Indian Bureau of Mines and will be managed as major minerals. A transition period of four months, ending on June 30, 2025, has been allocated for this change. Revenue generated from these mineral mines will continue to benefit state governments as it has previously, the statement added.
