Some Aspects on Mineral Resources of Odisha

Abstract

Mineral resources play a major role in industrial development of the country. These mineral resources are mostly hosted by Precambrian rocks which incidentally occupy major part of the State Odisha. In the present study, thrust has been put on some of the very important mineral deposits of Odisha, such as, chromite, platinum group of elements (PGE), bauxite, manganese ore, nickel ore, iron ore and graphite. Amongst these mineral commodities except graphite, Odisha possesses the highest resource in India. In case of graphite resource, the State comes after Tamil Nadu. Nature of host rock for these minerals, their utilization and total resources/reserves have been documented. The pattern of consumption of those minerals in the country over the last four years has been studied as well. An attempt has been made to statistically predict the time period by which the proven resources for these minerals in Odisha will be fully exhausted by projecting the increasing trend of consumption of the said minerals. In view of the possible future status of these mineral resources, alternative thought process has to be initiated for sustainable industrial expansion. Apart from search for new mineral deposits or their possible substitutes, conservation of these non-renewable natural resources needs to be prioritized.