CHROME ORE AND DIAMOND RESERVES
Chrome ore reserves
have been identified in Andhra Pradesh, Jharkhand, Karnataka,
Maharashtra, Manipur, Orissa and Tamil Nadu. The applications
for grant of mineral concessions both from the private sector
and public sector are continuously received and processed by the
State Governments. Twenty chrome ore mines existed in Karnataka,
Maharastra and Orissa in the year 2001-02. Out of this 8 were
in public sector and 12 in private sector.
The Majhagawan
diamond mine owned by National Mineral Development Corporation
(NMDC) in the Panna district of Madhya Pradesh is the only diamond
mine in the country. The Geological Survey of India (GSI) has
reported that they have undertaken investigation for Kimberlite/Lamproite,
the source rock for diamond, in Orissa, Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh,
Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka. In Orissa, GSI has recently located
two lamproite dykes in Sakri area, Bargarh District and also in
Dumarpur and Masankura reserve forest area, Naupara District.
This information
was given by the Minister for Mines, Shri Ramesh Bais in written
replies in the Lok Sabha today.
