Coal
(i) Occurrance : The coal is extracted from coal fields in Udhampur & Kalakot area which extends from Jangalgali in the east to Jigni in the West, falling in Districts of Udhampur and Rajouri and lies between latitude 30o-15o to 33o-15o and Longitude 74o-20o and 75o-10o
This coal which is semi anthractitic in rank occurs as black in form though about 10% of the production is in the form of Steam coal.
The coal is of generally of high heat value.
(ii) Proximate analysis : The general proximate analysis of the coal is as under :
Ash. 20 to 30%
Volatile Matter 10 to 13%
Moisture 1 to 1.5 %
Calarific value 6000 K. Cal/Kg to 7800 K. Cal/Kg.
(iii) Uses : This coal is used in
(a) Manufacture of cement using V.S.K. Technology.
(b) Brick Kiln Industry.
(c) Steam coal is used in Industries using boilers.
(d) In manufacture of battery covers.
Gypsum
(i) Occurrance : The Gypsum deposits occur in Buniyar in Distt. Baramullah and in areas of Ramban and Assar in Distt. Doda of J&K State. J&K Minerals Limited is actively mining Gypsum from Assar Gypsum mine which is situated at 30 K.M. from Batote on N.H.-18 and is envisaging to expoit huge gypsum reserves from Parlanka area in Distt. Ramban.
The Gypsum so mined is of purity of 80% to 98% and is in the form of lumps.
(ii) Chemical Composition of random sample :
Insol R2o3% CaO% Mg% SO3% ±H2o% Loss on ignition% Total% of Gyspum
1.30 0.24 31.73 Trace 46.30 20.50 20.75 100.32 97.23
(iii) Uses : Gyspum is used in.
(a) Making of plaster of paris.
(b) Manufacture of cement.
(c) Manufacture of Gypsum Boards.
(d) Land Reconditioning
(e) Pharmaceutical Industry
( f) Black Board Chalk
(g) Ceramics Industry for Pottery Moulds.
Sapphire
Occurance.: The Sapphire occurs in Paddar area in Distt. Doda, J&K State, which lies between longitude of 76 Deg.-15 Deg. and 76 Deg. -30 Deg. at a height of 4500 m above N.S.L.
Quality : The Sapphire of paddar is deep bluish in colour resembling peacock neck and is world renowned Gem-stone for its clarity and transparency.
Uses : Mainly used in Jewellery and has a high ornamental value.
Magnesite
(i) Occurance : The Chipprian Magnesite deposit is located 3 KM away from Panthal village in Udhampur Distt. J&K State. Panthal village is situated 15 KM from Tikri (NH-IA) on Tikri-Katra Route. The deposits are located in rugged, hilly topography at an altitude of 1481 Mts. SML.
This deposit is worked in a Joint venture between M/s JKML and JK Minerals Development Corporation. The Magnasite is of high grade and it is proposed to feed the magnesite are after crushing to proper size Rotary kilns fro Obtaining dead burnt magnesite.
(ii) Chemical Composition :
Loss on
Ignition
Silica
(SiO2)
Ferric Oxide
(Fe2O3)
Calcium Oxide (CaO)
Magnesium
F2 O5
51.1%
1.1%
1.5%
0.56%
45.6%
ND (not
detectable.)
Uses : (i) The dead burnt Magnasite is used in manufacture of Refractory Bricks.
(ii) Magnasite is used in Medicines and Cosmetics.
Lime Stone
(i) Occurance : High grade lime-stone both cement grade and chemical grade occur in a abundance in Distt. of Anantnag, Pulwama and Baramulla Distt of J&K State.
J&K minerals is exploiting cement grade lime stone at Khrew in Distt. Pulwama.
(ii) Chemical Composition : CaO component of this lime stone is between 44% to 52%. The limestone was exploited for captive use by J&K Mineral Limited in its cement plant at Wuyan, Distt. Pulwama and the company envisage to exploit these deposits on large scale for indigenous consumption.
(iii) Uses : The Lime stone is used in manufacturer of cement, lime and Sulphuric Acid.
Lignite
(i) Occurance : The lignite deposits occur in Nichohama 50 KM from Srinagar in Distt. Kupwara, J&K. The detailed exploration has been carried out by GSI and Mineral exploration Corporation Limited and more than 5 Million tonnes of Deposits have been proved.
J&K mineral is envisaging to exploit this deposit as captive product for Thermal Power Station to be set up at site.
Chemical Composition of random sample :
Ash % VM % Moisture % FC%
49.6 27.7 9.6 13.1
Marble
Occurance : Marble deposits occur in Kupwara, Kashmir in various hues and colours. J&K Minerals is exploiting marble at Drug-Mulla, Kupwara.
Uses : The Marble Salbs after cutting, polishing and finishing are used in flooring, walling and as stable tops.
Mineral Resources
Jammu & Kashmir is the sole holder of
country’s borax and sapphire resources and
possesses 36% graphite, 21% marble and 14% of
gypsum. Coal, gypsum and limestone are the
important minerals produced in the State. Coal
occurs in Poonch, Rajouri and Udhampur districts;
gypsum in Baramulla and Doda districts;
limestone in Anantnag, Baramulla, Kathua, Leh,
Poonch, Pulwama, Rajauri, Srinagar and Udhampur
districts; and magnesite in Leh and Udhampur
districts.
Other minerals that occur in the State are
bauxite, ball clay and china clay in Udhampur
district; bentonite in Jammu district; borax
and sulphur in Leh district; diaspore in Rajouri
and Udhampur districts; graphite in Baramulla
district; lignite and marble in Kupwara district;
quartz and silica sand in Anantnag, Doda
and Udhampur districts; quartzite in
Anantnag district; and sapphire in Doda district
Exploration & Development
The details of exploration carried out by
GSI in the state are furnished in Table – 3.
Production
The value of mineral production in Jammu &
Kashmir at L169 crore during 2012-13 decreased
marginally as compared to that of the previous
year.
The minerals produced in the state were
coal, limestone and gypsum. Minor minerals
dominate the value of mineral production
contributing 95% of the total value of mineral
production in the state followed by coal &
limestone with 2% each and remaining
contribution was from gypsum. In the year under
review, the production of gypsum increased by
42% while it decreased by 5% and 15%
respectively for coal and limestone as compared
to the level of previous year (Table-4).
The production value of minor minerals
was estimated at L161 crore for the year
2012-13.
There were eight reporting mines in 2012-13
as against 10 in the previous year.
The index of mineral production in Jammu &
Kashmir (base 2004-05=100) was 92.1 in 2012-13
as compared to 92.5 in the previous year.
Mineral-based Industry
Jammu & Kashmir Cements Ltd, a State
Government undertaking, operates a cement
plant of 1.98 lakh tpy capacity at Khrew in
Pulwama district. The company also owns a tiny
cement plant of 20,000 tpy capacity located at
Wuyan in Srinagar district besides two other
tiny cement plants that have a total capacity of
39,000 tpy. The State also has a 1,800 tpy capacity
Unit that manufactures ceramic and refractory
products in District Kathua. A 3,000 tpy capacity
calcium carbide plant is situated at District
Pulwama.