Geology and Mineral Resources of Odisha

Abstract

Orissa, situated on the eastern seaboard of India is one of the gifted parts of the world, where a gamut of mineral resources exist in bounty. The state is endowed with large reserves of bauxite, chinaclay, chromite, coal, dolomite, fireclay, graphite, gemstones, iron ore, limestone, manganese ore, mineral sand, nickel ore, pyrophylite and quartz. Recent discovery of diamond in the Dharambandha area of Nuapada district by the State Directorate of Geology has added a coloured feather in the cap of the state. Other minerals of the state include copper ore, lead ore, titanium bearing vanadiferous magnetite, talc/ soap stone and high magnesia igneous rocks. Recent boom of the mineral industry has turned the state into a hotspot, with entrepreneurs from all over the world crowding for their share of fortune. The rich mineral wealth of the state is attributed to its favourable geological setup. Situated on the eastern fringe of the peninsular India, Orissa has about 72.5% of the area occupied by Precambrian metamorphic rocks (of Archaean and Proterozoic age) which host the majority of the minerals. The Gondwanas hosting the coal resources occur over about 8% of the land mass. The Tertiary and Quaternary formations, occupying rest of the area, provide avenues for aluminous/ nickeliferous laterite and heavy minerals (in beach sand). The Archaean rocks in northern Orissa include the Supracrustal belts of metasedimentary rocks including Iron Ore Super Group having deposits of iron, manganese, gold and basemetals. These are also represented by the gneisses, granite, migmatite (Singhbhum, Bonai and Mayurbhanj Plutons) and mafic/ ultramafic intrusives. These intrusives are associated with the chromite, titaniferous vanadiferous magnetite and PGM. The Bastar cratonic complex of Archaean age in the Western Orissa includes gneisses, granite, migmatite and Strontium-Tantalum-Niobium bearing pegmatites.