Geological Survey of India (GSI)
identified thorium-bearing mineral deposits in Gundlupet taluk, Chamarajanagar
district, Karnataka
¨
Geological Survey of
India (GSI) identified thorium-bearing mineral deposits in Gundlupet taluk, Chamarajanagar
district, Karnataka.
¨
The deposits were mapped
across about 700 acres in Koothanur and nearby villages.
¨
Around 20 acres were
identified as the core area for excavation and mining auction preparation.
¨
Thorium (Th) is a
naturally occurring radioactive metal with atomic number 90.
¨
Thorium can be converted
into fissile Uranium-233 (U-233) inside a nuclear reactor, making it a
promising nuclear fuel.
¨
Monazite is a phosphate
mineral containing thorium and rare earth elements and is one of the principal
natural sources of thorium and uranium.
¨
In India, monazite is
mainly found in beach and coastal placer sands.
¨
India possesses one of
the world's largest thorium resources, primarily associated with
monazite-bearing sands.
¨
Major thorium deposits
are concentrated along the coasts of Kerala, Tamil Nadu, and Odisha.
¨
Thorium belongs to the
actinide series of the periodic table and has a very long radioactive
half-life.
¨
India is studying the
thorium fuel cycle for advanced nuclear energy applications.
¨
The Geological Survey of
India (GSI) is the national agency responsible for geological mapping, mineral
exploration, and geoscientific studies.
¨
GSI functions under the
Ministry of Mines.
¨ It conducts surveys for metallic, non-metallic, and atomic minerals and supports resource assessment, mine planning, and mineral auctions.
¨ The Gundlupet discovery follows an earlier identification of thorium-bearing minerals in the Chikkammathayi Hills area.
