India’s lithium finding requires a few more steps: report
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Srinagar: Today’s jubilant mood over the discovery of lithium deposits in Jammu and Kashmir comes delayed by more than two decades.
The Geological Survey of India (GSI) first submitted a reported about prospects of finding lithium in the union territory’s Silal village almost 26 years ago, reported NDTV.
A report by GSI in 1997 said the prospects for lithium appears to be promising given the “persistent lithium values and presence of widespread bauxite column at a number of places”.
Obviously there has been little follow-up until the latest statement by the Ministry of Mines on Tuesday.
The statement by the ministry said that GSI found “ Lithium inferred resources” of 5.9 million tonnes in the Salal-Haimana area of Reasi distric of Jammu and Kashmir.
While celebrating the find, it is important to take note of the word ‘inferred’ used by the ministry in its statement.
It falls on the lowest of the levels of confidence in the estimation of a mineral deposit as the two at top are ‘indicated’ and ‘measured’.
The latest find by GSI like previous in 1995-97 is also preliminary, as per the report by NDTV.
The GSI’s find gives the hope of India sitting on the world's seventh-largest deposit of the rare element.
However, it seems it is too early to dream about India becoming the rich by tapping the resource, according to the report.
The report suggests that there are four stages of exploration as per United Nations Framework Classification for mineral resources.
The GSI’s discovery has entered the second of the four currently, meaning there are two more to cover.
More important, India does not possess the technology to ‘excavate and process lithium’, the report said.
Mines Secretary Vivek Bhardawaj reportedly said that Jammu and Kashmir administration will have to take the step to auction off the deposit, so the private players can start excavation.
The finding of lithium deposit will put India among the world’s major lithium exporters, while 50 percent of its deposits are in Argentina, Bolivia and Chile.