Raj, GSI join hands to accelerate rare earth exploration in Barmer

Jaipur: The state govt and the Geological Survey of India (GSI) will jointly accelerate exploration activities for critical and strategic minerals in Siwana Ring area of Barmer district, Additional Chief Secretary (mines and petroleum) Aparna Arora said Tuesday.Chairing the 12th meeting of the joint working group at the GSI Auditorium in Jhalana, Arora said the mines department, Rajasthan State Mineral Exploration Trust (RSMET), and GSI will work in close coordination to speed up exploration in the region, where indications of large reserves of rare earth elements (REE) have been identified across nearly 750 sq km.“The discovery has made the Siwana Ring belt an important region for India’s mining sector, particularly in the context of growing demand for critical minerals used in strategic and high technology sectors. To improve coordination and avoid duplication of work, nodal officers will be appointed by both the state govt and GSI,” said Arora.Geological surveys in the volcanic complex, have identified strategic minerals such as niobium, zirconium and hafnium. These minerals are considered crucial for multiple sectors, including defence, aerospace, nuclear energy, electric vehicles, robotics and advanced electronics.“The state department also urged central and state exploration agencies to share data and coordinate their activities to prevent overlapping of exploration work,” an official added.According to officials, the Union ministry of mines recently highlighted the presence of REEs, heavy rare earth elements (HREEs), and critical rare metals in three blocks of the complex during a review meeting. The technical evaluation work of these blocks has already been assigned to three companies.During the meeting, GSI director and joint working group member secretary Harish Mistry said, “Out of 136 major mineral blocks auctioned in Rajasthan, 110 were explored by the state mines department, while GSI explored 22 blocks, MECL three, and AMD one block. Of these, 97 blocks were limestone blocks.”GSI deputy director general (Western region) Lalit Mohan Singh Maura said, “The organisation continues to contribute significantly to mineral exploration through baseline geological data preparation, satellite mapping and resource projects.”