Singareni, CSIR-IMMT sign pact on exploration of rare minerals from mining waste

Key Points

1. Singareni Collieries Company Ltd (SCCL) signed an agreement with CSIR-Institute of Minerals and Materials Technology (IMMT) on Tuesday.
2. The agreement focuses on joint exploration and extraction of rare earth minerals from mining waste.
3. N. Balram (Chairman and Managing Director of SCCL) stated the effort would boost self-reliance in rare earth minerals.
4. IMMT will use indigenous technology to explore rare minerals in Singareni's mining waste.
5. The agreement includes exploration in shale, soil, sandstone, granite, fly ash, and bottom ash.
6. Rare earth minerals were found in opencast mining areas, overburden, and fly ash/bottom ash from the Singareni Thermal Power Project (STPP).
7. Geological Survey of India found rare earth minerals in soil samples from Durgamgutta hillocks near Manuguru.
8. About 14 light and heavy rare earth minerals were found, including lanthanum, cerium, praseodymium, yttrium, scandium, and dysprosium.