Mineral Resiources of Manipur

Minerals provide a base for the rapid industrialization. It is imperative, therefore, that proper attention is paid to their development. The State Government has formulated a New Mineral Policy (NMP). It is to develop mineral-based industries by identifying lack of infrastructure, lack of investment and flow of credit from banks and exploration of local resources and manpower to achieve the industrial growth. With the objective of the strengthening organisationa l set up, streamlining of mineral administrative machineries, augmentation and intensification of mineral exploration, commencement of mining activities and participation in general water exploration and geo-physical investigations, it is proposed to provide sufficient fund during the Ninth Five Year Plan. To achieve the objectives phasing programme for exploration and investigation of minerals, collaborative efforts for strengthening of the Geology and Mining Division is initiated by creating Mining section. So far 58 percent of the total area of Manipur has been covered by systematic geological mapping and 42 percent still remains to be covered.

Mineral Resources:

The Geological Survey of India (GSI) has undertaken systematic survey in the three districts of Manipur viz. Ukhrul, Churachandpur and Chandel and discovered considerable quantities of valuable mineral deposits like limestone, copper, lignite, nickel, chromite, asbestos, salt etc. Some of the important mineral resources are given below.

Limestone:

Limestone is an important material for manufacturing of cement. It is mainly available in different parts of Ukhrul District viz. Hundung, Mata, Khangoi, Sokpao, Lambui and Kasom. It is also available between 32/4 and 32/6 milestone on Imphal Moreh Road in Chandel District. Only in Ukhrul District, the total inferred deposit of limestone has been estimated to 6.35 million tonnes and 5.76 million tonnes at Phungyar and Meiring respectively.

Asbestos:

The veins and veinlets of antigorite and chrysotile asbestos have been found in the massive serpentine bearing rocks near Moreh, Nepali Basti and Kwatha but none of these occurrences seem to be of economic importance. A small quantity of asbestos is also available in the eastern part of Ukhrul District.

Chromite:

Deposits of chromite containing metallurgical grade have been located near the Shiroi hill of the Ukhrul District and hinted the possibility of large deposits in future. Besides, quantity of chromite is also available near the Nepali Basti of Chandel District covering an area of about 90 sq. km. and having maximum thickness of 0.3 metre.

Copper:

The Geological Survey of India (GSI) has found copper in the Chandel District and Nickel containing copper sulphate, chalcopyrite, chalcocite and metals at Nungau and kongal Thana. A small quantity of copper is also available at Ningthi & Kwatha of the Chandel District and Humie of the Ukhrul District.

Nickel:

Nickel associated with the serpentinite rock has been located at Nampesh and Kwatha areas of the Chandel District. The GSI in their geochemical and other methods has found metallic nickel dispersed in the soil in fairy high concentration of nickel varying upto 0.9 percent. Soil samples in the Moreh area containing weathered serpentinite rock also show the availability of nickel varying from 0.24 to 0.9 percent.

Lignite:

The GSI has found deposits of lignite in Kangvai village of Turenloo valley of Churachandpur District. The total quantity of lignite has been estimated at 12,262 tonnes which can be used in manufacturing cement in the cement plant in Ukhrul district.

Salt:

Salt is mainly available in Waikhong, Sikhong, Chandrakhong and Keithel Manbi. Most of the salt springs are being tapped by driving one metre diameter lined wells for manufacture of salt in a small-scale.

Mineral Production:

The total mineral production of Manipur in 1990-91 and 1991-92 were 130 tonnes and 64 tonnes with a value of Rs.114 thousands and Rs.42 thousands respectively. However the mineral production in 1993-94 and 1994-95 were 642 tonnes and 784 tonnes respectively. The production had decreased from 470 tonnes in 1995-96 to 62 tonnes in 1996-97. The production had a slight increase to 68 tonnes in 1997-98 over the previous year. There is no production of minerals since 1998-99 as no mining work was taken up. The performance of minerals production is shown in the table which is given below.

Production of Minerals in respect of Manipur State:

Source: Economic Survey Manipur 2008-09

Among the entire North East states, Manipur is the only state which produced chromite. During the period 1995-96 to 1997-98, 600 thousand tonnes of chromite was produced in Manipur. And the value of production of chromite was Rs.6.34 crores during the same period. Again the value of production of minor minerals was Rs.14.89 crores during the year 1995-1996 and the value of production remains stagnant during the succeeding years (1995-1996 to 1997-1998).