The Directorate of Geology is carrying out exploration of mineral resources in the state as per Mineral (Evidence & Mineral Contents) Rules-2015 using latest technologies and methodologies for basic geological data generation and augmentation of mineral resource keeping in view the Mineral Auction Policy following Amendment of the M & M (D&R) Act, 2015.
• Planning and formulation of exploration programme for different minerals in the state is being done in the State Geological Programming Board meeting every year in consultation with Central and State Government Organizations, PSUs and other stake holder for mineral development of the state. During the last five years, the Directorate has undertaken 59 investigation programmes at various stages of United Nations Framework classification (UNFC) systems for minerals like coal, bauxite, iron ore, manganese, chromite, graphite, limestone, base metal, dolomite, heavy minerals, diamond, gemstones, PGE , dimension stone & decorative stone in the state. The achievements of the investigations and laboratories of the Directorate are briefed below.
Achievement of the Directorate of Geology, Odisha from 2012-13 to 2016-17
Directorate of Geology has under taken 59 nos. of investigation programmes in the districts of Nuapada, Jharsuguda, Sundargarh, Keonjhar, Dhenkanal, Angul, Koraput, Rayagada, Kalahandi, and Mayurbhanj during the last five years. A total of 3393 sq km area has been geologically mapped in 1:25,000 scale, 17.605 sq. km area in 1:5,000/1:2,000 scale and 5.45 sq.km area was covered by geophysical survey. Besides, 16754.9 m drilling & 1606 cum of trial excavation have been achieved. In total 7001 rock & mineral samples and 2235.99 m coal samples have been collected for analysis. 6860 kg of garnet of abrasive grade has been recovered by trial pitting.
In addition to the above one Gem testing laboratory, one Petrological laboratory, one Diamond laboratory and one mineral observation laboratory are also functioning. Commercial as well as promotional testing and characterisation of precious and semiprecious stones is being carried out in its advanced gem testing laboratory. Details of achievements in different investigations during the year are as following.
Coal:
Explorations for coal at G2 stage of UNFC has been undertaken at the behest of CMPDIL in Baitarani east block, Bhubaneswari Block, Subhadra West Block of Talcher Coalfield in Angul district and Madhupur Block of Ib Valley Coalfield in Jharsugurha district. Besides, preliminary investigation of coal around Rajbahal in Sundargarh district has been done. In Madhupur block 5 split sections of coal seam with thickness ranging from 1.70 to 28.25m have been intercepted and resource estimation is in progress.
Diamond:
Investigation for diamond around Darlimunda in Nuapada district was undertaken in G-3 stage of UNFC. In course of investigation two lamproite bodies of size 400m X 0.5 to 3.5m have been located but no incidence of diamond has been noticed.
Limestone/Dolomite:
Investigations for limestone and dolomite were taken up around Sargipali-Lephripara at G-4 level and around Tumelbud in Sundargarh district at G-3 level of UNFC. Size of Lephripara dolomite has been arrived at 1300mX100m. An inferred resource of 7.64756 million tonnes of dolomite has been assessed around Lephripara and Surgura of Sundargarh district. One G2 level exploration for limestone was under taken around Pipalmunda of Bolangir district where limestone ranging in thickness from 3.90 m to 67 m has been encountered. Resource estimation is in progress.
Heavy Minerals:
Investigation was taken up in Balarampur & Hunda-Samantaripur blocks of Puri district for assessment of heavy minerals like ilmenite, zircon, rutile, monazite & garnet. Incidence of Total Heavy Minerals ranges between 4 to 12%.
Chromite:
Investigations for chromite were taken up in Sukinda valley of Jajpur & Dhenkanal districts. In total 17 ultramafic bands have been located in Kankadahada-Kandhara and Dolia-Kulanga area of Dhenkanal district. Drilling in Talangi chromite mines encountered friable chromite bands of 1 m to 10.60m thickness. Exploration for chromite (G-2) in Tangarpada area of Dhenkanal district could not reveal any chromite lode.
Iron ore:
Iron ore investigations in Bonai-Keonjhar horse shoe belt of keonjhar & Sundargarh district have identified potential iron ore deposit around Netrabandh Pahar in sundargarh district. Resource of 81.973 million tonnes of iron ore has been estimated at G2 stage of UNFC and the block has been auctioned. Besides, 8 (eight) discontinuous magnetite bodies varying from 10m X 10m to 500m X 50m have been located around Baldela, Mangarsahi & Tilabari area of Mayurbhanj district. Assessment of iron ore in Netrabandh west block(G-2 stage) is in progress through drilling.
Manganese:
Investigations for manganese were undertaken around Kenamenta & Deoghar area of Sundargarh district & Roida ‘D’ block of Keonjhar district. Manganese ore zone of 2.95m to 8.80m thickness has been proved in Kenamenta area through drilling. Besides, 10 discontinuous manganese pockets were delineated in Deoghar area. Investigations for manganese around Tonto and Roida area of Keonjhar District brought to light Manganiferous laterite with manganese ore over an area of 400 m X 400 m around 1 km west of Roida and in old quarries near Chormalda, Kundrupani & Roida areas. Mn percentage in 10 samples collected from west of Roida varying from 17.20 to 51.77%. Besides, float iron ore having areal spread of 300 m X 30 m has been noticed around 1km south west of Roida on the western slope of Gobru pahar and around 1km south of Kundrupani with a spread of 100 m X 50 m.
Bauxite:
Investigations for bauxite were undertaken in parts of Kalahandi, Rayagada & Koraput districts brought to light. 29 bauxite bearing plateaus with thickness of bauxite from 2 m to 12m. An inferred source of 36.61 million tonnes of bauxite around Lingapadar, jamchuan, Tebhakalam, Dumurigurha, Talisaru etc has been estimated.
Graphite:
Investigations for graphite were undertaken in parts of Angul, Dhenkanal, Kandhamal, and Rayagada districts at G-4 level of UNFC and 7 graphite occurrences measuring 2 to 700m x 10m to 200m have been delineated. Graphite mineralisation over a length of 1100m and width of 200m has been identified by Geophysical prospecting around Kanja-Karabira of Dhenkanal district. Assessment of graphite around Naringpanga at G-2 level was taken up through 18 vertical bore holes at 50 m x 50 m grid. Disseminated graphite associated with migmatised khondalite with thickness varying from 2.60 to 18 m has been encountered. Resource estimation is in progress.
Gemstone:
Investigations for gemstone carried out around Pokharidiha in Mayurbhanj district, Dumerpadar, Jillingdhar in Kalahandi and Ghagarmunda area of Dhenkanal district at G-4 level of UNFC. The investigations have brought to light occurrence of green beryl (natural emerald) around Ghasbani, Uparbeda area of Saraskana Tahasil of Mayurbhanj district. A total of 1057 gm of beryl has been recovered from Ghasbani and Uparbeda occurrences of Mayurbhanj district. Exploration for abrasive grade garnet is in progress around Sapajhar area near Khamar of Angul district. So far 1100 kg of abrasive garnet has been recovered from 35 nos. of trial pit at 100m x 100m grid. Almandine garnet, Moonstone & Corundum occurrence near Jillingdhar, Rhodolite and Almandine garnet occurrence near Ghagarmunda & Madarangamunda, Iolite and Opaque beryl occurrence near Dumerpadar in Kalahandi district have been located.
Besides the above, investigations were also conducted for PGE in Bangur area in Keonjhar district, Gold around Giringkela in Sundargarh district and for identification of dimension & decorative stone blocks in Boudh district. During the current year investigations for decorative and dimension stones around Rasol area in Dhenkanal district & Kashinagar area of Gajapati district patches of Decorative stones have been identified. Quartz and quartzite around Moter area of Kalahandi district are continuing. Further, geophysical survey for sub-surface location of basemetal to the north of Kesharpur of Mayurbhanj district is in progress.
Other important activities
The Gem testing Laboratory of the Directorate has characterized and certified 19,253 nos. of commercial samples of coloured, precious / semiprecious and organic stones and generated revenue of Rs 38,86,314/- by March, 2017.
The Petrological laboratory has completed petrographical studies of 981 samples which include 834 rock specimens collected from different investigations. Besides, grain counting of 147 heavy mineral composite samples was also undertaken for assessment of each heavy mineral