Resources & Opportunities in Mineral Sector


Mica
         The state stands 2nd in the Mica deposits and production in the country. The Nellore Mica schist belt is known as the 2nd biggest mica belt in the country extends over a strike length of about 90 KM and covering an area of about 1000 Sq.km is found around Gudur, Rapur and Atmakur Mandals of the Nellore district. At present bulk of the Mica production comes from Nellore and Visakhapatnam Districts. 

Barytes 

         Huge reserves of Barytes are found in Cuddapah, Prakasam and Nellore districts. World's largest single deposit with an estimate reserve of 70 million tones Grey Barytes occurs in Mangampet, Cuddapah district. Mangampet Barytes with grade 92% BaSo4 and an average specific gravity of 4.21 is used in oil & gas well drilling. The other grades are catering the needs of Chemical and Paint industries. 

Beach Sands / Placer Deposits 

          Potential Monazite beach placer deposits are found all along the coastal stretch right from Srikakulam district on north to Prakasam district in south and also along the Godavari, Krishna, Nagavalli, and Vamsadara river channels & confluence, which contains Illmenite, Monazite, Zircon, Rutile, Garnet and Sillimanite, out of which Zircon & Monazite are atomic minerals and classified. Illmenite & Rutile are Titanium bearing minerals.
 
Bauxite 

      Andhra Pradesh is 2nd richest in Bauxite deposits in the country, huge reserves of 750 million tons of metal grade Bauxite have been proved in forest and tribal tracts of Visakhapatnam and East Godavari districts by detail explorations. 

Limestone 

       Andhra Pradesh contains 44% of limestone reserves of the country with estimated reserves around 30,400 million tones of different grades, produces 15 million tones and contributes 15% of the total production of the country. State is one of the largest producers of cement (18-20%) with 18 major and 29 mini cement plants. 

Dolomite 

       Dolomite is found in Khammam, Kurnool, Ananthapur, Warangal and Cuddapah Districts. Visakhapatnam Steel Plant and Southern Magnesium are exploiting metal and SMS grade Dolomite of Khammam and Warangal Districts. Dolomites from other Districts are presently been used as filler in detergents, and other industries. 

Coal 

       Andhra Pradesh is the sole producer of Coal in the entire South India, Coal occurs in Gondwana formations of Godavari valley and found over larger tracts of Adilabad, Karimnagar, Khammam and Warangal districts. These vast spreads of Coal formations are partially explored by different Geological agencies and measured reserves of around 10,500 million tones with possible reserves of 30,000 million tones. 

Copper, Lead & Zinc 

        Occurrences of Copper, Lead & Zinc are found at number of places in Cuddapah, Guntur, Khammam, Kurnool, Nellore and Prakasam Districts. The established reserves are about 9 Million Tones of Copper, Lead & Zinc with 1.35 to 1.60 % Copper, 3 to 9% Lead and 4 to 5% Zinc. 

Low Grade Iron Ore 

      Iron ore occurs in Kurnool, Ananthapur, Chittoor, Khammam, Warangal, Karimnagar, Adilabad and Prakasam districts. The total estimated reserves are around 265 Million Tones of various grades of Iron ore. High grade Hematite Iron ore from Ananthapur and Kurnool is being exploited and catering the needs of Sponge & Pig Iron Plants in the State. The low grade Magnetite Iron ore deposits with 22 to 35% Fe are found over a length of 52 KM near the Port in Ongole- Prakasam district , which were thoroughly explored and estimated a reserve of 165 million tones. 

Asbestos 

      The best crysotile variety of Asbestos is found near Pulivendla and Brahmanapalli in Cuddapah District. There are number of Asbestos deposits in Cuddapah, Kurnool and MahabubNagar Districts. The present level of production is around 2000 Tones per annum. 

Manganese 

      Andhra Pradesh is one of the few States in India, producing Manganese ore. There are number of deposits in Vizianagaram, Srikakulam, Adilabad and Prakasam Districts. The estimated reserves are about 7.5 Million Tones of low grade manganese with 30 to 40% Mn in the state. The Manganese ore can be used for the manufacture of Electrolytic Manganese Dioxide, Manganese Chloride, and Batteries in addition to exports. 

Vermiculite 

        Vermiculite is found in association with the Mica in Nellore and Visakhapatnam districts. The production is not consume rate with the potentiality in the areas. Vermiculite is mostly used in acoustic purposes after exfoliation and also exported. 

Graphite 

         Low grade Graphite with less then 40% Fixed carbon is found in Khondalite suite of rocks in Khammam, West Godavari, East Godavari, Visakhapatnam, Vijayanagaram & Srikakulam districts of the state. The graphite is used in manufacture of electrodes, graphite crucibles and paints. 

Tungsten Ore 

        Tungsten ore is occurring over a length of about 1 Km in Tapsikonda and Burugubanda in East and West Godavari districts. M/s NMDC has explored the area in association with BRGM and proved reserve of about 11 million tones of ore with 0.03 to 0. 05 % of W2O3 in association with Graphite. Tungsten is very much useful in super alloys and electronics. 

Steatite/Talc/Soap stone 

        Best grade Steatite/Talc/Soap stone occurs at various places in Kurnool, Ananthapur, Cuddapah, and low grade occurs in Chittoor and Khammam Districts. Presently Steatite is being mined and supplied to various Cosmetic, Soap, Ceramic and as filler in pesticide and insecticide industry. 

Calcite 

        Semi- Transparent & Good grade Calcite with less than 2% of Sio2 occur in Ananthapur, Cuddapah, Khammam & Visakhapatnam districts. There are being used in metallurgy, welding flux, as filler in rubber and Paint Industry. 

Apatite 

         Only Apatite deposit in the entire Southern India ( P2O5 > 35%) occurs near Kasipatnam at Seetharamapuram- Visakhapatnam district, which is being exploited under joint venture with M/s APMDC. 

Ceramics 

      Andhra Pradesh has plenty of Minerals required for Ceramic industry and is the largest source for Various Clays, Feldspar, Quartz, Silica Sand, Pyrophillite, Nepheline syenite Rare Earths (Titanites/Zirconite. The State invite offers for development of Advanced ceramics like Electro and Mechano Ceramics. 

Clays 

        The total estimated reserves of Clays to be around 21 Million Tones. 
The Fire Clays occurring in Adlilabad and East Godavari Districts are being used in sanitary ware and stone ware industries. China Clay and Ball Clay occurring in Ananthapur, Kurnool, Cuddapah, Nellore, Nalgonda, West Godavari and Guntur Districts are being used in different Ceramic, Refractory & Filler Industries. Clays finds usage in many industries like Ceramic, Refractory, Paper, Textiles, Electrical, Cement, Petroleum, Foundries etc. 

Fuller's Earth 
 
     Pocket deposits of Fuller's Earth occur at number of places around Vikarabad- Ranga Reddy district, which is being used in Oil well drilling, as a bleaching Earth in the edible Oil refining and exported to Middle east countries. 

Ochre 

       Red & Yellow Ochre extensively occur at number of places in Kurnool, Ananthapur, Cuddapah, Visakhapatnam & West Godavari districts. They are being used in Paint & Polishing industry. 

Quartz/Quartzite 

           Granular, Glassy, Semi-glassy and Massive Quartz/Quratzites deposits occur extensively in MahabubNagar, Ranga Reddy, Nalgonda, Medak, Nizamabad, Khammam, Kurnool, Ananthapur, Chitoor, Nellore, Prakasam, Guntur, West Godavari, Visakhapatnam & Vijayanagaram districts in the State. Quartz finds usage in Ferro-Alloys, Ceramic and Glass Industries. Presently Quartz is being mined from Ranga Reddy, MahabubNagar, Medak, Kurnool & Nellore districts and exported from Madras port to various countries. 

Silica sand 

        Silica sand Occurs all along the East Coast from Guntur to Nellore districts. In addition, there are extensive Quartzites containing silica sand deposits around Orvakal in Kurnool district. The silica sand from these areas are used as Moulding sand, Sodium silicate, ceramics, refectories, glass etc., There is a vast scope to exploit and develop the deposits.

Feldspar/ Nephilene Syenite 

        Potash & Sodic Feldspar occur at number of places as pegmatites in Ranga reddy, MahabubNagar, Khammam, Nalgonda, Nellore, Cuddapah, Ananthapur & West Godavari districts. Nephilene Syenites occurs in Khammam and Prakasam districts.
Pyrophyllite 
Pyrophyllite occurs in Cuddapah and Ananthapur districts, which is being used in Refractories. There are prospects for exploitation and utility around the mineral occurrences. 

White shale 

         Extensive deposits of White shale occurs in Kurnool, Cuddapah & Ananthapur districts in Cuddapah and Kurnool basins, which are being exploited and used as filler in number of industries like Pesticides, Insecticides etc. 

Granite 

       Andhra Pradesh is one of the largest producer of granites in the country, 17 out of 23 districts have several occurrences of different varieties of granites. The estimated reserves of commercial granites are around 251 million Cubic meters in the state. World's rare and exclusive variety of black Galaxy Granite occur in Chimakurthy- Prakasam district
 
Slates/Phyllite 

         There are vast deposits of Slate / Phyllite in Prakasam, Guntur and Nalgonda Districts. Some of the varieties are already been exported from the State to Australia, New Zealand and European Market. 

Marbles 

        Different varieties of Marbles occur in Khammam, Cuddapah, Guntur and Nellore Districts. There is a scope to open up new areas in the above districts and establishment of cutting and polishing industry.

Limestone Slabs 

         Different colors of Limestone Slabs are extensively found in Ranga Reddy, Nalgonda, Guntur, Ananthapur, Cuddapah, Kurnool & Mahabubnagar districts. They are being exploited locally and exported to different parts of the country and other countries for flooring


                                      A.P. minerals vis-à-vis national