The
Directorate of Geology executes different mineral investigation
programmes from its Headquarters at Bhubaneswar and six Zonal Offices
located at Berhampur, Bolangir, Sambalpur, Keonjhar, Koraput and
Dhenkanal as per the decision taken in the State Geological Programming
Board Meeting held annually. In the past, it has successfully carried
out investigations on coal, iron ore, bauxite, limestone, chromite,
manganese, gemstones, diamond and several other minerals.
During the last year, significant achievements have been made
under the exploration activities undertaken by the Directorate of
Geology by locating and proving a viable iron ore deposit in Dholtapahar
area of Sundargarh district where a probable reserve of 1.9 million
tonnes of iron ore has been estimated through geological mapping and
drilling. The coal exploration activity in Padma block of Talcher
coalfield could establish a resource of 66 million tonnes of coal.
Besides, technical information was generated on Jaganath West Coal Block
in Talcher coalfield for planning of an underground mine.
Exploration for heavy minerals such as ilmenite, monazite
and rutile in Udayagiri sector of Puri coast resulted in establishing a
reserve of 1 million tonne of heavy minerals. Similarly, the bauxite
exploration work in Ramgarh area of Koraput district could bring to
light an inferred reserve of 18 million tones of bauxite in Tadapani
plateau.
The exploration activity for search of primary source of
diamond in Dharamabandha area of Nuapada district has resulted in
delineating positive areas, where it is now planned to take up detailed
drilling work to prove the depth persistence and geometry of the bodies.
Besides, the exploration for gemstone in Shagaraha area of Kalahandi
district could bring to light three iolite occurrences.
