The Singrauli region of Madhya Pradesh, so far known for its large coal reserves, is now moving towards a new identity. The central government informed the Parliament that rare earth elements have been found in the land of the Singrauli Coalfield. These elements are used in many important things related to modern technology.
Information Given in Rajya Sabha
In the Rajya Sabha, Minister of Coal and Mines G. Kishan Reddy said that Coal India Limited (CIL) has started work on exploring these rare earth elements. He said that samples of coal, soil, shale, and sandstone were taken from the Gondwana layers of Singrauli, in which good quantities of these elements were found.
What are Rare Earth Elements?
Rare earth elements (REE), are a group of 17 special metals, including scandium, yttrium, and lanthanides. They are used in modern technologies such as electric vehicles, wind turbines, mobile phones, military equipment, solar panels, and advanced computer chips. Today, these metals are considered a part of the strategic strength of any country.
Presence in Coal and Non-Coal Samples
According to government data, rare earth elements up to 250 parts per million (ppm) have been found in coal-related samples. At the same time, their quantity is even higher in non-coal layers like shale and soil, i.e., around 400 ppm. This indicates that the Singrauli region can become a major center not only for energy but also for important industrial minerals.
Industrial Power Hidden in Singrauli's Soil
The Singrauli Coalfield is one of the largest coal-producing regions in the country. Now, the rare earth elements found in this region can make it special in the field of technology as well as energy. Scientists and geologists are closely monitoring the presence of these metals found in the Gondwana layers.
Exploration also Conducted in North-East India
The government informed that rare earth elements have also been searched for in some coalfields of North-East India. The total quantity of these elements was found to be less there, but the special thing was that the quantity of heavy rare earth elements was comparatively higher there. Heavy REEs are considered more valuable and technically important.
Work is Being Done on New Technologies
The government also informed that indigenous technologies are being developed to extract these minerals. Work is underway on two special technologies. The first is physical separation, i.e., separating minerals physically, and the second is ion exchange resin technology, which will be used to extract metals from acid mine drainage and non-coal layers.
Minerals will also be Extracted from Mining Waste
Coal India Limited is focusing not only on new mining areas but also on old mining waste. The presence of REE has been found in these waste materials and research is being done to extract them. This will be like turning waste into treasure.
The Country Can Get a Big Benefit
India is currently dependent on China and some other countries to meet the demand for rare earth elements. If their commercial extraction becomes possible from areas like Singrauli, then it will also give a new impetus to the Self-Reliant India campaign. The contribution of this discovery can be important in making the country self-reliant from a technical and industrial point of view.
More Discoveries Possible in the Future
After this discovery, the way has now been opened to explore similar possibilities in other coalfields and Gondwana basin regions of the country. Scientists believe that rare earth elements may be hidden in many other places in the Indian geography, which can be discovered with new technology and research.
Expectations Increased with Information Received in Parliament
After this entire information came to light, there is an atmosphere of enthusiasm in both the industry and the government. This new identity of Singrauli Coalfield can prove to be a new chapter for India's mineral resources. More important steps can be taken in this direction in the coming times.
