Minerals

MINERAL RESOURCES

Kerala State is endowed with a number of occurrences/deposits of minerals such as Heavy Mineral Sands ( Ilmenite, Rutile, Zircon, Monazite, Sillimanite) ,Gold, Iron ore, Bauxite, Graphite, China Clay, Fire Clay, Tile and Brick Clay, Silica Sand, Lignite, Limestone, Limeshell, Dimension Stone (Granite), Gemstones, Magnesite, Steatite etc. However, mining activities on large scale are confined mainly to a few minerals - Heavy Mineral Sands, China Clay and to a lesser extent Limestone/Limeshell, Silica Sand and Granite. In fact, Heavy mineral sand and China Clay contribute more than 90% of the total value of mineral production in the State.

MINERAL BASED INDUSTRIES IN THE STATE

The State owns mineral deposits like placers, china clay (kaolin), limestone, limeshell, silica sand, bauxite, graphite, iron ore, granite etc. The major mineral based industries like Indian Rare Earths Ltd., Chavara, Kerala Minerals and Metals Ltd., Chavara, Malabar Cements, Walayar, Travancore cements Ltd., Kottayam, Kundara Ceramics, Kollam, English Indian Clays Ltd. (EICL), Thiruvananthapuram, Excel Glass Industry, Alappuzha, Kerala Clays and Ceramic Products Ltd., Palayangadi, Kannur are some of the mineral based industries working in the State since several years. The resources of beautiful ornamental granites in the state are being exported to different countries.

DETAILS OF INDIVIDUAL MINERAL DEPOSITS

MINERAL SAND

The Heavy Mineral Sand deposits in Kerala contain an assemblage of Ilmenite, Rutile, Leucoxene, Monazite, Zircon and Sillimanite. The State possesses one of the world class deposits of mineral sands in the coastal tracts between Neendakara and Kayamkulam. This, commonly known as the Chavara deposit, after the main locality, covers a total length of 22 km and a width of about 8 km in the northern side and 6 km in the southern side. The Chavara barrier beach portion contains concentration of heavy minerals above 60%. The Chavara deposit is estimated to contain 127 million tonnes of heavy minerals with ilmenite content of 80 million tonnes from the total reserve of raw sand of the order of 1400 million tonnes. In the northern portion beyond Kayamkulam Pozhi extending up to Thottappally in Alappuzha district, the total reserve of heavy minerals estimated to the order of 17 million tonnes with ilmenite content of 9 million tonnes from the raw sand of 242 million tonnes.

Chavara barrier beach with a width of 225 m is divided into 8 blocks numbered I to VIII for separating ilmenite for the manufacture of TiO2. The blocks are apportioned between Kerala Minerals and Metals Ltd. (KMML),a State Government undertaking and Indian Rare Earths Ltd. (IRE), a Government of India enterprise under the Department of Atomic Energy.

Apart from the Chavara heavy mineral deposits a number of heavy mineral placers have been delineated in different parts of the State.

Kayamkulam-Arattupuzha-Thrikkunnapuzha-Thottapally

^ Kannimalssery-Neendakara-Maleppuram-Odetti, Anjengo-Vettoor, Veli-Kazhakuttom, Vizhinjam-Kovalam-Pachallur

$ Valapattanam-Azhikode, Ponnani-Chavakkadu

GOLD

Gold occurs in Kerala both as primary and placer deposits. The known occurrences are mainly in Wayanad-Nilambur regions. Discovery of gold in Attapady valley of Palakkad district is new and promising.

IRON OREMining activity in the Wayanad Gold Field was abandoned in the early part of the 20th century. The main reason for this appears to be the discovery of the very rich gold deposits in Kolar Gold Field in Karnataka around that time.

Investigaiton/exploration initiated by the Geological Survey of India (GSI) during the 1950's and 1960's concluded that the Wayanad Gold Field deserves more detailed studies and that exploratory mining in selected projects could prove to be economically workable. Following this, the United Nations assisted Kerala Mineral Exploration & Development Project of the State (now merged with Department of Mining and Geology) studied the gold placers in Chaliyar and Punnapuzha rivers draining Nilambur valley. Exploration for primary gold was also taken up which resulted in delineating the Maruda prospect. Two other prospects of interest have also been identified close to Maruda viz. Mannucheeni and Thannikkadavu.

Department of Mining and Geology through a detailed investigation has established a reserve of 0.55 million tonnes of grade of 4 g/tonne of gold in Marudp, Nilambur, Malappuram District Further exploration is required for planning a commercial venture for mining and extraction of gold.

Exploration through test pits carried out in placer deposits of Nilambur valley along the rivers Punnapuzha and Chaliyar puzha have indicated reserves of the order of 2.5 Million m3 of placers with 0.1 gm/m3 of gold. Possible reserves of the order of 30 Million m3 of placers were also projected for the area. In view of the gap in technology for mining of gold placers in the country, a program for exploration and pilot scale mining was taken up during 1994-'96 through French Assistance (BRGM). The studies confirmed the incidence of gold on the present day river channel with an average grade of 0.1 g/m3. The geochemical survey covering 570 km2 to locate alluvial gold placers in Nilambur valley has indicated 15 anomaly areas for further studies.

Investigations by Geological Survey of India (GSI) during 1991-92 have revealed the occurrence of primary gold in Attapady Valley, Palakkad district Systematic stream sediment sampling had helped in delineating these parallel prospective zones extending 10-22 km with a width over 2 km in the western termination of the Bhavani Shear Zone, Within these zones 12 prospects have been identified for detailed prospecting. In Kottathara prospect, 0.08 million tonnes of gold have been established over a lode length of 250 m and a true width of 2.39 m with an average grade of 12.98 g/t. Work is being continued in the adjoining Naiku Padi and in the extension zones. Puttumala had retrieved 0.0067 million tonnes of an average grade of 14.99 g/t. In view of this a conglomeration of a number of small prospects could be a viable prospecting and exploration strategy for the Attappady gold deposits.

Iron Ore

Five iron ore deposits of banded magnetite quartzite type have been identified in

Kozhikode District and one in Malappuram District. Geological Survey of India/Department of Mining and Geology,National Mineral Development Corporation (NMDC) and United Nations assisted Kerala Mineral Exploration & Development Project have explored the deposits of iron ores in these areas.

These deposits are estimated to contain 84 million tonnes of reserve (geological reserves) with iron content varying from 32 to 41 %. The reserves and the percent of Fe content are as follows:

Tile manufacturing units are concentrated in certain areas in the State mainly Feroke area of Kozhikode district, Amballur, Ollur of Thrissur district, Aluva of Ernakulam district, Chathannur of Kollam district and Amaravila of Thiruvananthapuram district.

GRAPHITE

Graphite occurs in nature in the form of vein, dissemination (flaky) and amorphous variety. The first two types of occurrences are found in Kerala. The vein - type graphite mined earlier around Veli, Vellanad and Changa is confined only to the Thiruvananthapuram district. The flake type of graphite is extensive in occurrence in Thiruvananthapuram, Kollam, Kottayam, Idukki and Ernakulam districts which have been studied by Geological Survey of India and are quite akin to the celebrated flaky graphite mined in the Malagasy Republic. The graphite occurs as thin flakes distributed more or less evenly in the rock constituting on an average about 5% -10% of the bulk of the rock, although rich pockets are not uncommon. The studies in various laboratories in the country and abroad in respect of the bulk samples collected from the flaky graphite deposits of Vadakode, Nagapuzha (Muvattupuzha taluk, Ernakulam district) and Chirakkadavu (Kanjirappally taluk, Kottayam district) point to good beneficiation characteristics, a high recovery of fixed carbon (about 85%) and preservation of suitable flake size facilitating their use in key value added industrial application like crucible manufacture etc. The reserve position in respect of the flaky graphite deposits of Ernakulam and Kottayam districts are given below:

Fossiliferous Limestone is known to occur in various parts of Kollam district such as Kallurkadavu, Mughathala, Kannanallur, Kottiyam, Mayyanad, Nedumgandam and Edava in Thiruvananthapuram district. The occurrence of shell limestone is in the form of discontinuous lenses intercalated with black carbonaceous clay in the Tertiary formations.

Lime Shell

The State is deficient in high-grade limestone. Consequently the requirement of lime for chemical industry is depended on the limeshell resources occurring in the backwaters/estuaries, river mouths and lagoons along the coastal tract.

By far the largest reserves of lime shell are known to occur in Vembanad lake and adjoining portions comprising parts of Alappuzha, Ernakulam and Kottayam Districts. The Department of Mining and Geology by its detailed investigation in certain parts of Vembanad lake and adjoining areas have established a reserve of 3.29 million tonnes as shown below:

The lime shell resources next in importance to Vembanad lake are those in Kannur and Kasargod districts in North Kerala.

The department had also investigated on the occurrence of limeshell in Thrissur, Malappuram and Kannur districts and the reserves indicated are as follows:

Area Reserve in million tones

Thrissur District: Naduvullikara, Vadanapalli, Chettuva, and Kappad 0.33

Kannur District: Payyannur, Cheruvathur, and Thrikkarippur 0.29

Malapuram District: Kanhiramukku 0.14

Iswaramangalam, and Edappal

MAGNESITE

A total possible reserve of 0.037 million tonnes has been estimated in Mulli-Salayur areas, Attappadi in Palakkad District by the Department of Mining and Geology. In Salayur area, magnesite veins varying in thickness from 10 to 30 m were observed in pits. The average recovery of magnesite was assessed as 100 kg/m3 of magnesite - bearing rocks and samples on analysis were found to contain 43.05 to 46.73% MgO, 1.51 to 6.59% of Si02 and 0.29 to 0.59% of CaO.

STEATITE / TALC

It is consumed in many manufacturing industries of paper, insecticide, textile, fertilizers, ceramics, rubber products, cement, asbestos etc.

Several steatite occurences have been identified in Thalassery Taluk of Kannur district. The total reserves estimated are of the order of 7.94 million tonnes.

GRANITE (DIMENSION STONE)

An important aspect of recent trend in architecture and construction is the increasing use of a host of crystalline rocks as dimension stones after being cut and polished for enhancing aesthetics and decor of buildings and monuments. In this regard a number of rock types broadly grouped as"Granite" that exist in various parts of Kerala are utilised for this purpose.

The major granite belt of Kerala can be classified by its geologic setting into three categories:

Charnockite-Khondalite belt of Thiruvananthapuram, Kollam, Pathanamthitta and Kottayam districts (colour ranges from pale green with mottled red, bluish green with cordierite, deep dark green, greyish white).

True intrusive or anatectic granites and associated migmatites of Proterozoic age from Idukki, Palakkad, Kannur, Kasargod and Wayanad districts (colour: Pink, light pink, Gray, yellowish white and bluish pink with wavy .patterns).

Dolerite-Gabbro dykes, Proterozoic intrusive hypabasal dyke swarms from Kottayam, Palakkad, Malappuram and Kozhikode districts (colour: dark greenish blue, black and dark gray with black spots).

In Kerala, the importance of exploration of granites has been recognised rather late although investigations have been initiated right from 1976. There has been a spurt in quarrying leases for granite dimension stone in the early nineties that resulted in creatiol"1 of international market for green and white coloured granites of Kerala. Though Kerala has large resources of dimension stone granite in most of the districts amenable for being cut and polished, there are only 19 quarries producing 3589 cbm annually (2001-'02) which is low compared to the production of other southern States of Tamilnadu, Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh.

In Kerala, the importance of exploration of granites has been recognised rather late although investigations have been initiated right from 1976. There has been a spurt in quarrying leases for granite dimension stone in the early nineties that resulted in creatiol"1 of international market for green and white coloured granites of Kerala.

Though Kerala has large resources of dimension stone granite in most of the districts amenable for being cut and polished, there are only 19 quarries producing 3589 cbm annually (2001-'02) which is low compared to the production of other southern States of Tamilnadu, Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh.

There are three different geological setting in which gemstones occurs in Kerala viz.

- the pegmatites traversing the crystalline rocks

- in association with gravels in the river channels of the present day

- in the older gravels which are often consolidated and lateritised

These settings have fairly extensive geographical distribution in Thiruvananthapuram district, the localities of importance are Andoorkonam, Aruvikkara, Balaramapuram, Bonaccord Estate, Braemore Estate, Changa, Chullimanur, Madathara, Manickkal, Pirappancode, Venjaramoodu, Venganoor, Vembayam, Thonnakkal, Uzhamalakkal, Manvila, Mudakkal, Nedumangad, Vellanad, Nettani, Ooroottambalam, Pothencode and in Kollam, the main gem bearing localities are Adukkalamula, Podiattuvila, Kulathupuzha, and Talachira. Besides these localities several stretches of rivers like Kallar- Vamanapuram Ar, Karamana Ar, Neyyar in Thiruvanathapuram District and Kulathupuzha, Kallada rivers in Kollam district are also subjected to sporadic mining activities, though there is no legalized gem mining in the State.

Mineral Concessions

District Survey Report

MINERAL RESOURCES

Mineral Revenue

Chemical Elements of the Earth (Science)The solid outer layer of our planet—the Earth's crust—is built mostly of a few primary chemical elements:Oxygen (O): Makes up almost half of the Earth's crust.Silicon (Si): Combines with oxygen to form silicates, the most common rocks.Aluminum (Al): A light metal found in many common minerals.Iron (Fe): Forms a large part of the Earth's deep inner core and crust.Calcium (Ca), Sodium (Na), and Potassium (K): Found widely in salts, rocks, and minerals.

The 17 Elements

Scandium (Sc)

Yttrium (Y)

Lanthanum (La)

Cerium (Ce)

Praseodymium (Pr)

Neodymium (Nd)

Promethium (Pm)

Samarium (Sm)

Europium (Eu)

Gadolinium (Gd)

Terbium (Tb)

Dysprosium (Dy)

Holmium (Ho)

Erbium (Er)

Thulium (Tm)

Ytterbium (Yb)

Lutetium (Lu)

Light vs. Heavy Groups

Light Rare Earths (LREEs): Lanthanum, cerium, praseodymium, neodymium, samarium, and promethium.

Heavy Rare Earths (HREEs): Europium, gadolinium, terbium, dysprosium, holmium, erbium, thulium, ytterbium, lutetium, scandium, and yttrium.

When considering naturally occurring elements in the Earth's crust by mass, the rarest elements are highly unstable radioactive decay products or extreme precious metals. The top five rarest naturally occurring elements, headed by the least abundant overall, are:

Astatine (At): Element 85; an estimated less than 25 grams exist in the entire Earth's crust at any given time as a transient product of uranium and thorium decay.

Francium (Fr): Element 87; highly radioactive with a half-life of only 22 minutes, meaning less than 30 grams exist on Earth at any moment.

Earth Rarest

+1

Polonium (Po): Element 84; a rare, highly radioactive metal formed in uranium ores, with a total crustal inventory measured in tiny fractions of a gram.

Astatine's peers / Promethium (Pm): Element 61; a radioactive rare-earth metal with no stable isotopes, existing only in minuscule trace quantities in uranium fission.

Earth Rarest

Iridium (Ir): Element 77; the rarest stable (non-decaying) primordial element in the Earth's crust, found at concentrations of about 0.2 parts per billion.

Essential Biological & Life Elements (15 Core Nutrients)If referring to the fundamental chemical building blocks most vital to life and nature (plants and animals), science commonly highlights these 15 key elements:Hydrogen (H) – Found in water and all organic matter.Carbon (C) – The core structural basis for all organic life.Nitrogen (N) – Essential for DNA, amino acids, and the atmosphere.Oxygen (O) – Vital for respiration and water composition.Sodium (Na) – Important for cellular electrolyte balance.Magnesium (Mg) – Crucial for chlorophyll in plants and metabolic functions.Phosphorus (P) – Element number 15; vital for DNA and energy transfer in cells.Sulfur (S) – Important for protein formation and plant nutrients.Chlorine (Cl) – Regulates fluid balance in biological systems.Potassium (K) – Key nutrient for plant growth and cellular function.Calcium (Ca) – Builds structural strength in bones, shells, and cell walls.Manganese (Mn) – Acts as a catalyst in various enzymatic processes.Iron (Fe) – Crucial for oxygen transport in blood and plant development.Copper (Cu) – Supports cellular respiration and enzyme functions.Zinc (Zn) – Facilitates immune function and metabolic reactions.Earth's Crust & Soil Abundance (Top 15 Elements)If you mean the 15 most physically abundant chemical elements that make up the mass of the Earth's natural crust and soil, they are:Oxygen, Silicon, Aluminum, Iron, Calcium, Sodium, Potassium, Magnesium, Titanium, Hydrogen, Phosphorus, Manganese, Sulfur, Carbon, and Barium/15th variations depending on measurement metrics.