Lithium Reserves in Karnataka

Lithium Reserves in Karnataka

Part of: GS Prelims and GS – I – Geography & GS- III – Resources

In news

• Atomic Minerals Directorate issues clarification on media reports about Lithium Reserves in Karnataka.

Key takeaways 

• Atomic Minerals Directorate for Exploration and Research (AMD), a constituent unit of the Department of Atomic Energy and Geological Survey of India are two agencies that are involved in mineral exploration.
• Lithium is a key element for new technologies. 
• It finds its use in ceramics, glass, telecommunication, and aerospace industries.
• The thermonuclear application makes Lithium a “Prescribed substance” under the Atomic Energy Act, 1962 which permits AMD for exploration of Lithium in various geological domains of the country.
• Recently, news items on Lithium exploration and resource of Allapatna – Marlagalla sector, Mandya district, Karnataka have been published in various media.
• In some media, the estimates of lithium metal have been quoted to be as high as 14,100 tonnes in a small patch of the surveyed area in Mandya district. 
• The Directorate has clarified that exploration efforts have so far established ~1600 tonnes of lithium in the inferred category (low level of confidence).