Survey and Exploration

The Geological Survey of India is the principal agency for geological mapping and regional mineral resources assessment of India & its exclusive economic zone and is responsible for drawing up action oriented plans in close co-operation with all other agencies engaged in this task.

The Department of Ocean Development and its agencies are entrusted with the task of sea-bed exploration, exploitation, mining and processing. These call for multi-disciplinary approach. Detailed survey and exploration on land is done by Mineral Exploration Corporation, Directorates of Mining & Geology of the State Governments and various Central & State Public Sector Organisations. The initiative and co-operation of the private sector is also drawn upon as required.

In conducting exploration for minerals special attention is given to the development of strategic minerals through systematic investigation of various potential sources of their supply. Particular attention is given to the survey and exploration of minerals in which India has poor or just adequate resource base. Exploration for noble metals and minerals for electronic and other high-tech industries receives due attention.

Co-ordination of the exploration work is at present being done by the Central Programming Board of the Geological Survey of India. Policy parameters are generally discussed in the State Ministers Conference, Planning Commission and the Mineral Advisory Council. The existing arrangement is reviewed periodically with a view to bringing about co-ordination among the survey and exploration agencies and to ensure planned mineral development.

Organisations in the Mining Sector

The public sector contributes over 85 percent of the total value of mineral production. However, it is the avowed policy of the Government to withdraw from the non-strategic sectors and accordingly the public sector undertakings are being privatised in a phased manner.

Geological Survey of India and Mineral Exploration Corporation Limited undertake survey and exploration activities. Indian Bureau of Mines is responsible for regulation and conservation in mines. Hindustan Copper Limited and National Aluminium Company Limited are engaged in mining and processing.

Public sector enterprises like the National Mineral Development Corporation, Kudremukh Iron Ore Company, Steel Authority of India Limited and Orissa Mining Corporation dominate the iron ore sector. National Aluminium Company contributes about 35% bauxite mining and aluminium production. Hindustan Copper Limited predominates the copper ore mining sector.

After cessation of economic operations since 2000 in Bharat Gold Mines Limited, Hutti Gold Mines Limited (a Government of Karnataka undertaking), is the only undertaking engaged in the mining of gold. Rajasthan State Mines & Minerals Limited and Andhra Pradesh Mining Development Corporation predominate the mining of rock phosphate and barytes respectively.

Department of Mines

The Department of Mines is responsible for the survey and exploration of all minerals (other than natural gas and petroleum), for mining and metallurgy of non-ferrous metals like aluminium, copper, zinc, lead, gold, nickel, etc., and for the administration of the Mines and Minerals ( Development and Regulation) Act, 1957 in respect of all mines and minerals, other than coal, natural gas and petroleum.

The Department of Mines has jurisdiction over Geological Survey of India and Indian Bureau of Mines, both of which are subordinate offices. The Department of Mines has administrative and management control in Mineral Exploration Corporation Limited, National Aluminium Company Limited, Hindustan Copper Limited and Bharat Gold Mines Limited. Also the Department has minority equity stakes in Bharat Aluminium Company Limited and Hindustan Zinc Limited, both of which have been privatised.

Geological Survey of India (GSI)

The GSI is the principal agency responsible for the assessment of geological and regional mineral resources of India. GSI was established in 1851 and is one of India’s oldest investigative agencies in the field of earth sciences. Its areas of operation encompass scientific surveys and research, for locating mineral resources. GSI operates through six regional offices and four specialized wings - marine, coal geophysics, airborne surveys and training.

The GSI has to its credit geological mapping, covering an area of approximately 3.146 million sq.km, or 94 percent of the area of India. The maps are on a 1:63,360/ 1:50,000 scale, the data having been synthesized to produce 1:2000,000 scale geological maps of India, which have been correlated with the global set up as per international standards.

The GSI is also actively involved in the research and development of mapping and exploration techniques. It has set up a chain of modern petrological paleontological, chemical, mineralogical, geochronological, geotechnical and geophysical laboratories in its different operational bases, and offers its facilities and services on payment. Geological maps and data are available with GSI on a commercial basis.

Indian Bureau of Mines

Indian Bureau of Mines (IBM) is the principal government agency responsible for compiling exploration data & mineral maps and for providing access to the latest information is respect of mineral resources in India. IBM has both regulatory as well as service functions.

IBM offers technical expertise and proven experience in the fields of geology, mine planning and feasibility studies. The geological services of IBM include survey and preparation of mine plans, preparation of geological plans, preliminary geological appraisal of mineral properties, including the formulation of an initial scheme of detailed exploration with estimate of cost and preliminary reconnaissance, quick survey to determinate potential areas out of large properties, etc.

IBM’s technical consultancy services include the preparation of techno-economic feasibility reports, evaluation of feasibility reports prepared by other consultants and organisations etc., production planning and grade control in working mines, evolution of flowcharts for mineral benefaction and agglomeration to scale up to large commercial plants and engineering design data for commercial plants.

Besides these technical consultancy services, IBM also performs regulatory functions, namely:- enforcement of Mines and Minerals (Regulation and Development) Act, Mineral Concession Rules, Mineral Conservation and Development Rules. IBM disseminates statistical information on mines, minerals, metals and mineral based industries through its various publications which are available for sale on commercial basis.

Mineral Exploration Corporation Limited

Mineral Exploration Corporation Limited (MECL) is a public sector company, which undertakes detailed exploration of various minerals/ores by drilling, and exploratory mining. It is also engaged in proving the existence of reserves for their eventual exploitation. Exploration is taken up both on a promotional basis on behalf of the Government of India and on contractual basis for other agencies.

National Inventory of Mineral Resources

The national inventory of mineral resources including those of ocean bed is based on a comprehensive review of exploration data. These along with the relevant geological data and mineral maps is maintained and updated from time to time by the Indian Bureau of Mines as per the uses & specifications in industrial & other applications. The Indian Bureau of Mines compiles and provides access to the latest information in respect of mineral resources in India available for exploitation and endeavours to convert the physical inventory of mineral resources into resource inventory.