Activities of the Department with respect to mineral exploration during the year 2006-07 is summarised below:

I. Exploration for china clay

A. Thiruvananthapuram District

Based on the request from M/s. Ashapura Minechem Ltd., Mumbai, Department had undertaken a drilling programme at Sasthavattom on payment basis. A cumulative depth of 94.75m was drilled in 3 boreholes. The thickness of clay bed was found to be ranging from 12 to 16m. A reserve of 3 lakh tones of china clay was estimated over an area of 2.39 hectares

B. Kollam District

1. Mulavana area
Based on the request from M/s.Kerala Ceramics Ltd., Kundara the detailed investigation taken up for clays at Mulavana continued and 5 bore holes were drilled at a grid interval of 100m to a cumulative depth of 154.50 meterage ofcore drilling was achieved during this period. The average thickness of china clay is 17m. A total of 313.2 meterage of drilling in 12 boreholes was achieved since the commencement of investigation. A tentative reserve of 9 lakh metric tones of china clay is estimated in Mulavana area. Topographic survey was carried out in this area under investigation and prepared a contour map of 1:1000 scale.

2. Kundara area

Detailed exploratory drilling was also taken up in the area adjacent to Kerala ceramics, Kundara, Kollam. 3 Bore holes were drilled at a grid interval of 50m. The cumulative depth achieved in the area is 81m during 2006-07. The average thickness of clay horizon is 9m. 12 core samples were collected for chemical analysis. The tentative reserve of 0.45 lakh metric tones of china clay is estimated over an area of 0.0025 sq.km

C. Kasaragod District

1. Erikkulam area

Ongoing investigation for china clay at Erikkulam area was continued during the period under review. 3 boreholes were drilled to a cumulative depth of 102.50m. The average thickness of clay is 15 m. A total of 20 bore holes have been drilled and achieved a cumulative depth of 614.80m since the commencement of investigation in February 2005. A reserve of 24 million tones of china clay deposit was estimated over an area of 0.8 sq.km.

2. Paivalike area

In continuation for the investigation for china clay in Paivalike area a cumulative depth of 155.50 m drilling was in 4 boreholes during the period under review. An area of 0.4 sq.km was covered by exploratory drilling in 200 m grid interval and achieved a cumulative depth of 355.4 m from 10 boreholes since June 2005. Average thickness of china clay in this area is 18 m and the estimated reserve is in the order of 14 million tonnes. was to drill 10 boreholes in this area.

3. Kommungal Padavu area

Detailed exploratory drilling for locating china clay bearing areas in Kommungal Padavu area was commenced on November 2006. During the period under review 5 boreholes were drilled and a cumulative depth of 212m. The average thickness of clay ranges from 12 to 20m and an inferred reserve is 4 million tones over an area of 0.16 sq.km. The work is being continued.

4. Moonnuroad Malpachery area

Detailed exploratory drilling for locating china clay bearing areas in Moonnu road-Malpachery area commenced on December 2006. 4 Boreholes were drilled and achieved a cumulative depth of 93m.The average thickness of clay ranges from 8 m. The inferred reserve of china clay is 2.5 million tones over an area of 0.16 sq km. The work is being continued.

II. Survey for Minor Mineral Quarry

As per the recommendations of the Public Accounts Committee 1998-2000 of Kerala Legislature, the Department had taken up a programme for minor mineral quarry mapping in all districts of Kerala to prepare a database.

1. Kollam District

During 2006-07 the Minor Mineral quarry mapping in Kollam district was taken up and completed. As a part of the survey the entire district was surveyed covering 104 villages in 5 taluks and data were collected in the data sheet and the locations were plotted in a map. 772 Minor Mineral quarries and 73 crusher units were inspected in Kollam district. A preliminary report was prepared and submitted.

2. Thiruvananthapuram District

The survey for Minor Mineral quarries in Thiruvananthapuram District was taken up during the year 2006-07 and is still continuing. As a part of the survey, 421 minor mineral quarries and 29 crusher units were inspected covering Neyyattinkara, Nedumangad and Thiruvananthapuram taluks of Thiruvananthapuram district and data were collected in data sheet.

III. Preliminary investigations to delineate landslide prone areas of Idukki district

During the year 2006-2007, a preliminary investigation for delineating landslide prone areas in Idukki district was carried out in Munnar, Devikulam, Adimali and Thodupuzha areas.

IV. Geotechnical & Environment Division

During the year the following studies were carried out by the geotechnical and Environment Division.

a. A study was conducted on landslide occurrences in and around Nadhapuram, Kozhikode district with emphasis on Pashukadavu landslip and a report submitted to Government.

b. In connection with the categorization and collection of survey numbers of tile/brick clay bearing areas in Kozhikode district,t a field inspection was conducted at Poolakode, Peruvanna, Olavanna, Cheruvannoor, Karuvanthuruthy, Feroq, Ramanattukara and Kunnamangalam of Kozhikode district.

c. Environmental impact study was conducted in the proposed bauxite mine site area of Ashapura Minechem Ltd. in Sithangoli area of Kasaragod district along with RRL, Thiruvananthapuram using remote sensing techniques.

d. Based on the directions received from Government an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) was conducted at Kattakayalk area of Sakthikulangara area of Kollam District. An interim report incorporating the current environment scenario and follow up actions has been prepared.

e. Based on the request from the Central Kerala Tile Manufacturers Association, a field work was conducted in 38 villages of Thrissur district to ascertain the characterization of survey numbers forwarded by the association for notification and a consolidated report was submitted and forwarded to Government for reservation of clay bearing area for tile and brick industry.

f. As a follow up action of mapping of palaeochannels conducted jointly by GSI and DMG, a field work was performed at Pamba basin to ascertain the feasibility of drilling to quantify the sand reserves.

g. Formulated a project proposal to carryout EIA study at china clay mining areas of Thiruvananthapuram District to be performed by RRL and DMG and submitted a technical and feasible report to Government for approval.

V. Chemical Laboratory

During the period a total of 283 clay samples were analysed in the chemical lab. Apart from this 17 bauxite samples, 5 laterite samples, 2 silica sand samples were also analysed. 2 alloy samples were also analysed to detect the presence of Cu, Pb, Ag, Au, Cr, Mn and Zn.

VI. Mineralogy and Gem Testing Laboratory

During the year a total of 2586 gem stones/synthetic stones were tested and collected Rs. 503360 as fee for gem testing and petrographic studies, which marked an increase of 13% compared to the previous year. Also carried out petrographic studies and prepared two sections on payment basis.

VII. GIS Project

During the year (March 2007) a GIS Lab was setup in the Department by procuring 2 high end computers, 1 A0 size plotter, 1 A0 size scanner and one ARCGIS 9.1 software. The lab was primarily setup as a part of the GIS project sanctioned by Kerala State Council for Science, Technology and Environment.

Information collected during minor mineral quarry mapping carried out in the districts of Eranakulam, Pathanamthitta, Palakkad and Idukki have been retrieved and imported to the data format of GIS software procured. Thematic layers such as quarry, mine locations and drainage network and land reforms were generated on a trial basis.

Geochemical anomaly map of gold in Attappadi area of Palakkad District based on the data collected by the Department was prepared using GIS.

Preparation of map of brick/tile clay bearing areas in Thrissur and china clay bearing areas in Vizhingam/Thiruvananthapuram district are in progress.

MINERAL ADMINISTRATION

There is a steady increase in revenue collected by way of royalty, rent etc. The mineral wise revenue collection details for last 9 years are given in the table below:

It can be noted that the revenue collected for minor minerals such as granite (building stone), granite dimension stone, ordinary sand, laterite, tile/brick clay etc. are more than what was collected for major minerals.