Natural and Power Resources of Telangana | Telangana State PSC (TSPSC): Preparation Course - TSPSC (Telangana) PDF Download

Natural Resources of Telangana

• Telangana is endowed with abundant natural resources, with 10% of the nation's coal reserves located within its borders.
• The region's minerals hold significant economic value and play a crucial role in the economy, contributing to tax revenue, employment generation, and overall economic growth.
• Mining activities in Telangana create job opportunities, generate tax revenues, and contribute to the national income, driving economic development.

Mineral Wealth of Telangana

• Post the separation from Andhra Pradesh, Telangana's unique geological makeup presents a variety of economically valuable mineral deposits.
• The state covers an area of 112,955 square kilometers and holds significant potential for mineral exploration and extraction.
• Despite the discovery of various mineral deposits by public entities, there remains ample opportunity for further exploration to uncover new mineral reserves in the state.

Challenges and Opportunities

• Telangana possesses considerable untapped mineral potential, presenting opportunities for the growth of the mining industry.
• The formation of a separate state necessitates the development of effective regulatory frameworks, infrastructure, and support systems to facilitate sustainable mining activities.
• Existing challenges such as inadequate water storage systems and infrastructure have hindered investment in mining and exploration activities over the past few decades.

Mineral Resources in Telangana

Telangana's Abundant Mineral Wealth

• The Singareni Collieries Company Limited mines coal to meet industrial needs and power plants' requirements.
• Telangana boasts rich limestone reserves that cater to cement factories along with other minerals like bauxite and mica.

Significance of Telangana in Mining Revenue

• Telangana is among the top three regions contributing significantly to mining revenue, accounting for a substantial 79% of the income from the top 5 mining regions.
• The potential revenue from the Bayyaram Iron Ore mines, estimated to be in lakhs of crores, could further enhance this scenario.

Diverse Mineral Deposits in Telangana

• Ranga Reddy district is abundant in granite reserves, while Mahbubnagar district possesses kimberlite pipe (diamond) deposits, indicating the state's mineral-rich status.
• In addition to granite and kimberlite pipe deposits, Telangana is endowed with iron ore, feldspar, quartz, and various other mineral resources.

Geophysical Studies and Research in Telangana

• A recent seminar in Hyderabad focused on the latest trends in geophysical exploration, shedding light on the mineral resources available in Telangana.
• Ongoing research projects in Bayyaram and Mahabubnagar districts aim to study iron ore and kimberlite pipe formations, indicating the state's vast potential for mineral-based industries.

Mining and Industry in Telangana

• Telangana, comprising Hyderabad and mineral-rich regions like Adilabad, Khammam, Karimnagar, and Warangal, manages its resources effectively.
• Despite having less arable land, Telangana possesses abundant mineral reserves, fostering industrial growth.
• The state's vast expanse of wasteland and lower forest cover facilitates mining activities and the development of mining-based industries.
• Hyderabad stands out as Telangana's key asset, offering significant advantages to the surrounding areas.

Performance of Singareni Collieries Company Limited (SCCL)

• SCCL achieved a record coal production of 27.20 million tons during the first half of 2015-16, surpassing its target.
• The company recorded a substantial growth rate of 27.46% in comparison to the previous year's production.
• It supplied 28.34 million tons of coal to customers, marking a 14.55% increase over the previous year.
• SCCL effectively met the demands of energy utilities, captive power plants, cement, and other industries.

Coal Production and Excavation Statistics

• SCCL's overburden excavation reached 139.99 M.Cu.m, reflecting a 106% increase over the previous year.
• Coal India registered an 8.9% growth, producing 229.54 million tons of coal during the first half of the year.
• SCCL is dedicated to enhancing coal production and supply to power units in Telangana to support the overall development of the state.

Telangana State's Mineral Events and Opportunities

Overview of Mineral Resources

• Telangana state boasts a variety of mineral occurrences in diverse geographical conditions. Mining activities are currently focused on a few key minerals. 
• There is a need for a well-structured program for study and exploration, a transparent framework for issuing surveillance, prospecting, and mining licenses, efficient management of discovered resources, and the development of mineral-based industries such as fertilizers, glass, abrasives, and refractories.

Chromite

• In the Khammam region, chromite primarily occurs as float ore. It is also found in situ in lenticular pockets within ultrabasic rocks like pyroxenite and serpentinite. 
• Areas near Bhimavaram, Gauraram, Jannavaram, Imamnagar, and Enkuru hold an estimated 2,500 tons of float and a few hundred tons of in situ chromite. 
• This area shows potential not only for chromite but also for platinoid group minerals.

Copper

• Copper mineralization is observed in the Mailaram range of Khammam district in Dharwar quartz-chlorite schists, intruded by dark and blue quartz veins containing 1.5-1.7% Cu. 
• Chalcopyrite occurs as disseminations and stringers associated with pyrite and pyrrhotite. The copper mineralized zone extends over 800 meters with a reserve of 0.814 metric tons. 
• Advanced exploration using modern technology is recommended due to current copper prices.

Gold

• Alluvial gold has been extracted near the confluence of the Kinnerasani river with the Godavari in Khammam district and close to Mangampet in Warangal district. The Geological Survey of India is currently conducting exploration activities to assess the gold potential in the Atkur Block, Gadwal Schist Belt, Mahbubnagar district.

Geological Deposits in Adilabad and Khammam Areas

Isolated patches of united magnetite quartzites occur in various locations:

• Chityal, Kallada, Dasturabad, and Robanpalli
• Lakshettipet and Utnoor
• These deposits are generally NW-SE slanting BIF groups.
• Around 16 million tons of poor-quality mineral have been estimated in this area.

In the Khammam area, press mineral deposits are found between:

• Cheruvupuram, Bayyaram, and Navapadu
• Kothagudem

These deposits are classified into two main types:

• Press metal associated with Pakhals
• Iron-metal associated with varied hematite quartzite of Dharwar age
• The estimated total reserve in this area is around 11 million tons.

Notable deposits include those near Bayyaram, where:

• Two bands of high-grade press metal are present
• One band is estimated to contain 1,06,000 tons of high-grade metal and 6,00,000 tons of poor-quality metal
• The other band is estimated to contain 72,60,000 tons of mineral
• Detrital press metal is also found in other locations like Ramagundal.

Manganese Deposits

In the Adilabad region, manganese deposits with low phosphorous content are found as thin lenses within Penganga limestones at locations like:

• Gowlighat
• Goatkur
• Jamdapur
• Chanda

A reserve of 1,17,000 tons with an average grade of 39.6% manganese is estimated in this area. Poor-quality manganese-metal deposits are also present near Ratampet and Kandali in the Nizamabad district.

Non-metallic Minerals

Molybdenite

• Molybdenite is found in various locations in the Karimnagar area, appearing as bits, dispersals, and stringers in limit pegmatites and blue shaded quartz veins.
• The veins' width ranges from 15cm to 40cm, and their length varies from 5m to 20m, with grades between 0.01% to 0.2%.
• Minor occurrences of molybdenum are also found in pegmatites or stones in the region.

Asbestos

• Chrysotile asbestos with varying lengths from a few mm to 40mm is present in the serpentinised Vempalle dolomites at Somsil.
• An area with irregularly developed asbestos fibers exceeding 50mm in length has been identified over a stretch of 800 meters.

Amethyst

• Crystalline amethyst formations alternate with white quartz in drusy pits of crevice veins to the south of Karimnagar at Sandral.
• Similar amethyst and amethestene quartz veins are found at various locations in Medak and Warangal districts.

Barytes

• In the Khammam region, barytes occurrences are concentrated in a narrow belt of the Pakhals, around 6.5km east of Khammam town.
• Barytes are found at different locations like Rudramkota, Venkatayapalem, Gopalpur, Ballapet, Kodamur, and Cheruvupuram in varying forms such as lenses, stringers, and veins.
• Occurrences of barytes are also reported from Mahbubnagar region near Bollaram and NE of Virabhadradurgam.

Geological Resources in Specific Regions

• Veins ranging from 1 meter to 3.2 meters in thickness are visible in sheared zones within the Vempalle dolomite and quartzites.

Building Stones

• Various types of rocks like rock, dolerite, amphibolite, sandstone, and marble are present and can be used as decorative building materials in Warangal, Khammam, Karimnagar, and Rangareddy regions.
• There are multiple processing units operating, particularly in Khammam, Rangareddy, and Warangal areas.
• Clusters of white marble can be found near Jestalpane, Bethumpudi, and Chimalpahad.

Coal Reserves in Pranhita-Godavari Valley

• The Pranhita-Godavari valley has been renowned for its coal reserves for over a century.
• Coal-bearing Gondwana rocks are located in parts of Adilabad, Karimnagar, Khammam, Nizambad, and Warangal areas.
• The coal-bearing Barakar formation is present in various regions, usually overlain by younger Kamthi sandstones and shales.
• The Gondwana rocks, primarily the younger Kamthis, cover an area exceeding 11,000 square kilometers in the state, with limited exposures of the Barakar formation.
• The coalfields are divided into separate units including North Wardha, Asifabad, Tandur, Kanala, North Godavari, Sarangapalli, Chinnur, South Godavari, Kamawaram, Allapalli, Singareni, Kothagudem, Polancha, and Sivapuram, and are mined by Singareni Colleries Company Ltd. (SCCL).