According to the GSI, the moderate-quality bauxite resources are found in the Rymrai area of West Khasi Hills, while substantial reserves are located in a village in East Khasi Hills.
New Delhi: Significant deposits of bauxite, lithium, and limestone have been identified by the Geological Survey of India (GSI) across Meghalaya. This will give substantial economic benefits upon extraction to the state. ST Narahari, Director of GSI’s Meghalaya Training and Capacity Building Division, announced that recent reconnaissance surveys have confirmed the presence of bauxite in the Garo Hills, with additional deposits discovered in the West and East Khasi Hills.
According to the GSI, the moderate-quality bauxite resources are found in the Rymrai area of West Khasi Hills, while substantial reserves are located in a village in East Khasi Hills. The survey revealed promising limestone deposits, including high-grade reserves in East Jaintia Hills, East Khasi Hills and the Lithium Valley area near Cherrapunjee.
The GSI exploration has further revealed that 29 blocks in East Jaintia Hills have approximately 566.04 million tonnes of limestone. This includes estimated 71.78 million tonnes from a single block in Cherrapunjee. This discovery increases Meghalaya’s total limestone resources to an impressive 5737.82 million tonnes, reinforcing the state’s reputation for high-quality limestone, which is crucial for the region’s cement industry.
According to official sources, the GSI is expediting the exploration of rare earth elements (REE) and examining the presence of germanium and lithium, both crucial for advanced technology.
According to the reports, the initial surveys are being conducted to locate high-potential areas for these valuable resources, specifically in coal sediments of Khasi, Jaintia, and Garo Hills.
