GSI to assess bauxite deposits existing in Chhattisgarh’s Damchun block

The Geological Survey of India (GSI) will be making an assessment of bauxite ore deposits existing in Damchun block of Balrampur district in Chhattisgarh.

Notably, Chhattisgarh accounted for 6.07 per cent of the total bauxite production in the country in 2013-14, as per the annual report of the Union Ministry of Mines.

Gujarat had the maximum 32.41 per cent share in bauxite production while Jharkhand had 10.53 per cent share and Maharashtra had 9.51 per cent share. The remaining bauxite production was reported from Goa, Tamil Nadu and Karnataka, it stated.

Incidentally, the total value of mineral production (excluding atomic & minor minerals) in the country during June 2015 was `18,194 crore. The contribution of coal was the highest at `6662 crore (37per cent). Next in the order of importance were — petroleum (crude) `5636 crore, iron ore `1847 crore, natural gas (utilised) `2164 crore, lignite `516 crore and limestone `490 crore. These six minerals together contributed about 95 per cent of the total value of mineral production in June 2015.

Production level of important minerals in June 2015 were: coal 465 lakh tonnes, lignite 39 lakh tonnes, natural gas (utilised) 2617 million cu.m., petroleum (crude) 31 lakh tonnes, and bauxite 1524 thousand tonnes.

Chhattisgarh had 7.48 per cent share in total value of mineral production in the country during 2014-15, according to the annual report of the Union Ministry of Mines.