Tantalum Deposits
Tantalum Deposits
The Central Government has notified a list of 24 minerals including Tantalum, in Part D of the First Schedule of the MMDR Act, 1957 as Critical and Strategic minerals.
The Geological Survey of India (GSI), an attached office of the Ministry of Mines, is giving special emphasis on exploration of strategic and critical minerals including Tantalum. From field season 2021-22 to 2024-25, GSI has taken up 6 projects on exploration for Tantalum and associated minerals in different parts of the country. The details are as follows:
Sl. No.
Field season
State
District
Name of Mineral Block / Area / Belt
UNFC Stage
Mineral Commodity
1
2020-21
Gujarat
Sabarkantha
Nadri
G3
Tin, Tungsten, Tantalum, Niobium
2
2021-22
Arunachal Pradesh
East Kameng
Seppa
G4
Tantalum, Cesium
3
2023-24
Rajasthan
Alwar
Dadikar, Harsora and Khairthal
G4
REE, RM, Tungsten, Tin, Niobium, Beryllium, Tantalum, Hafnium
4
2024-25
Chhattisgarh
Gaurella-Pendra-Murmur & Korba
Uran- KotmiKhurd
G4
Niobium, Tantalum, REE, lithium
5
Bihar
Jamui
Kairi-Jhura-Murbaro
G4
Lithium, Niobium, Tantalum and associated strategic minerals (REE, Rare Metals)
6
Karnataka
Chitradurga
Chikjajur-Janakal
G4
Lithium, Cesium, Niobium, Tantalum, Tungsten
Further, GSI has established a Niobium-Tantalum resource of 16.42 million tonnes with average grade of 144ppm (Nb+Ta)2O5 at 100 ppm cut off in Rewat Hill block, Nagaur district, Rajasthan.
In order to strengthen the supply chain of critical minerals including Tantalum, elimination of customs duty on Tantalum ores & concentrates and unwrought Tantalum have been announced in Union Budget 2024-25.
This information was given by Union Minister of Coal and Mines Shri G. Kishan Reddy in a written reply in Lok Sabha today.