Shillong: The Geological Survey of India (GSI) has identified significant deposits of bauxite, lithium, and limestone across Meghalaya, promising substantial economic benefits upon extraction.
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.
GSI identified moderate-quality bauxite resources 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.
GSI’s exploration of 29 blocks in East Jaintia Hills revealed approximately 566.04 million tonnes of limestone, including an 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.
Official sources said that GSI is also accelerating the exploration for rare earth elements (REE) and investigating the presence of germanium and lithium, which are critical elements for advanced technology.
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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, sources added.
Once fully realized, these discoveries could significantly enhance the state’s economic and industrial growth.
