MINERAL RESOURCES OF ASSAM

Limestone

Limestone deposits of Assam are located in Karbi Anglong and North Cachar Hills districts. Many
limestone beds are interblended with coal-bearing sandstones. The important areas with excessive limestone
eposite in the districts are-Umrangshu in North Cachar Hills district, Koilajan and Dillai Parbat in Karbi
Anglong district.

Table:Limestone production in Assam

Year Net production (inBinoy Cement (inCCIat Dillai ParbatTotal (in million
million metric tonnes) million metric tonnes) metric tonnes) metric tonnes)
1976 - 77 - - 0.0883 0.0883
1977- 78 - - 0.0820 0.0820
1978 - 79 - - 0.1414 0.1414
1979 - 80 - - 0.2917 0.2917
1980 - 81 - - 0.2007 0.2007
1981 - 82 - - 0.2702 0.2702
1982 - 83 - - 0.2415 0.2415
1983 - 84 - - 0.2017 0.2017
1984 - 85 - - 0.2092 0.2092
1985 - 86 - - 0.2110 0.2110
1986 - 87 - - 0.2190 0.2190
1987 - 88 - - 0.2339 0.2339
1988 - 89 0.0112 - 0.2113 0.2225
1989 - 90 0.0021 0.0145 0.2239 0.2404
1990 - 91 0.0228 0.0655 0.2119 0.3001
1991 - 92 0.0226 0.0801 0.1618 0.2623
1992 - 93 0.0229 0.0509 0.1619 0.2355
1993 - 94 N.A N.A N.A 0.2812
1994 - 95 N.A N.A N.A 0.3562
1995 - 96 N.A N.A N.A 0.4080

Source : DGM, Assam

N.A. indicates not available

Sillimanite

Assam contains the best quality sillimanite deposits. The deposits occur in the banded geneissic complex of
Pre-cambrian age. Two types of sillimanite deposit occurs in the state-. sillimanite and quartz-sillimanite.
The important areas are mostly concentrated in Karbi Anglong district, namely-Chippilangso, Ingtigaon,
Samelangso, Upper Chelabor, Chailangso and Amterang. At Bumuni in Nagaon district sillimanite deposit is
also found.

Base Metals

The State Directorate of Geology and Mining recorded the base metals in the form of Pyrrhotite
chalcopyrite, and covellite malachite at a number of places. The Pancharatna, Shelvetta, Makum and Barjuri
in Goalpara district are the important areas have pyrite deposits.

Decorative Stone: Building and Road Metals

In Assam, granite and granite gneisses are available which are suitable for use as decorative stone, building
stones and road metals. Decorative stones can be used for manufacture of decorative tiles, slabs etc.
Deposits of granite occur mainly in Lower Assam, Karbi Anglong and North Cachar Hills districts and,
quartzite in Karbi Anglong and Nagaon districts covering about 3,500 sq. km. area. Granites occur mainly in
Dhubri, Bongaigaon, Kokrajhar, Goalpara, Kamrup and Nagaon districts of Lower Assam. Massive
sandstones occur in Upper Assam below the coal measures. But, there is no systematic survey carried out for
assessing the metals.

Iron ore

Assam is poor in Iron ore deposits. Iron ore occur in Chandardinga Hills, Langapara and Malaigarh of
Goalpara district and also in Hahim of Kamrup district. Chandardinga has a reserve of 10 million tones in
Archaean complex consisting of amphibolites, banded ferruginous quartzite and micaceous anthophyllite.
The thickness ranges from 30-74 meters. The iron ore mining in the state is not economically viable. Iron-
ore deposits in Assam are presented in the following table.

Table: Total reserve of iron-ore deposit in Assam

Location Latitude/ District Reserve Associated Types of Ore

Longitude Rocks
Chandardinga 20 012’30”N Goalpara 10 millionBanded Quartzite&Haematite
tonnes
Hills 90 020’30”E ferruginous phyllite Magnetite
Hahim 20 051’15”N Kamrup Indicated reserveBanded haematite Haematite
0.54 millon
91 010’0”E tonnes quartzite
Langapara 26 03’55”N Goalpara 9 million tonens Banded haematite, Haematite

90 028’50”E Magnetite Quartzite Magnetite

Clay

Various types of clay deposits occur in Assam but these have not been exploited properly. Clay is used
mostly in brick making and cement manufacture. Fire clay deposits occur at Sheelvetta and Koilajan of
Karbi Anglong district. The total reserve is 55,000 tonnes.

Kaolin or china clay occurs in Upper Deopani, Sheelvetta and Silonijan area of Karbi Anglong district. It is
mostly used in the manufacture of porcelain, files, paper and toothpaste etc. The total reserve of Deopani,
Silonijan and Sheelvetta deposits are 0.61 million tonnes, 0.17 million tonnes and 58,000 tones respectively.

Fuller’s Earth

In Assam, Fuller’s earth deposit of clayey rock is located on the left bank of river Pagladia at Subankhata.
The total reserve is estimated at 13 million tones.

Glass sand and Quartz

Glass sands suitable for optical use have been reported from Jinkyndeng of Karbi Anglong district, Jiajuri
and Thanajuri of Nagaon district. The total reserves of Jinkyndeng, Jiajuri and Thanajuri deposits are 13,700
tonnes, 7 million tonnes and 1.78 million tones respectively.

Good quality quartz is deposited at Hahim of Kamrup district, Sheelvetta and Rangsali of Karbi Anglong
district. The total reserves of Hahim, Sheelvetta and Rangsali deposits are 20,500 tonnes, 43,000 tonnes and
19,500 tonnes respectively. The deposits of good quality felspar occur at Hahim and Pancharatna.
Placer Gold

Assam was a producer of placer gold since time immemorial. All the river sands of Assam used to bear gold
in varying quantity. The river Subansiri in Upper Assam was a best producer. The State Directorate of
Geology and Mining carried out geological survey during 1989-90 in Subansiri Gerukamukh, Hallakhbari
and Choudhu area where 18 boreholes were drilled. Out of 18 bore hole samples collected by the
geoscientists of DGM, Assam, 13 indicated the presence of gold.

Lithomerge, Ochre and Mica

Lithomerge of white clay occurs at Nambar Nadi valley. The total reserve of Lithomerge is estimated at 35
lakh tonnes. Ochre occurs in the foothills of Kamrup district. Ochre is yellow earth used mainly for
colouring matter. Small amount of mica occurs in Barigaon in Kamrup district. Near Tin Tilla village on the
bank of Dhir bee (lake), mica is located, but it is not extensive and of no economic value.

Sillica sand

Sillica sand deposits are located at Jiajuri Hills and Thanajuri Hills of Nagaon district. The total reserve at
Jiajuri is 10 million tones, while at Thanajuri the reserve is 1.78 million tonnes. The glass sand can be used
for manufacturing of low-grade glasswares.

IMPACT AND RESPONSE

The environmental impact of mineral resources development covers the whole spectrum of operations
starting from the exploration to the utilization. Extensive mineral resources development activities may
cause certain negative effects on the surrounding environment and thereby easily have major pollution
impact on the surroundings. Coal mining is a major source of pollution in the areas situating nearby the
coalfields. The vast overburden dumps are a major environmental problem while the population suffers
directly from breathing coal dust. The other problems created by open cast and underground mining are
deforestation, loss of topsoil, land degradation, air and water pollution. Open cast coal causes major scars on
nature. Open cast mining in the Margherita area of the state is being opposed by individuals as well as
several other organizations due to its degradational impact on environment. Erosion and gullies on the duped
overburden are clearly visible, leading to further degradation of surrounding land and forests. The
continuous dust thrown up by the blasting and mining operations has started affecting the surrounding
vegetation. The unsystematic and haphazardly oriented coal mining of Makum coal field adversely affects
the surrounding ecosystem.

The environmental degradation due to the oil drilling activities and oil-based industry is also severe in
selected localities of the state. Release of mine water and spillage of oil from Lakowa and Geleki oil fields
locally known as 'gaspani' has damaged thousands of acres of crop fields rendering unsuitable for
cultivation. The environmental impact of the limestone extraction and processing activities is prominent.
Beside land degradation the lime dust affect the human health and the growth of plants.

The Directorate of Geology and Mining, Govt. of Assam is looking after the detection and exploitation and
development of mineral resources in the state.

The Mines and Minerals Regulation Act, 1975 was amended through an ordinance by the President of India
on 25th January, 1994. The main objective of this amendment was to encourage the private entrepreneurs as
well as the foreign investments and technology for acquiring foreign trade.