GSI to induct RV with shallow water drilling capacity

Kolkata, July 19 (IANS) The GSI will induct a state-of-the-art research vessel (RV) with shallow water drilling capability by early 2019, a statement said on Wednesday.

"Geological Survey of India (GSI) is going to induct another state-of-the-art research vessel with shallow water drilling capability by early 2019 to undertake mineral investigation with deeper penetration for 3-D modelling of the mineral resources and geotechnical investigations in shallow water," a GSI statement said.

"This will add a new dimension to the capabilities of our country in catering to the needs towards nation building," the statement added.

Ashish Kumar Nath, Superintending Geologist at GSI, said this would add to the existing fleet of three RVs.

"The Marine and Coastal Survey Division (MCSD) of GSI has been engaged in other missions of great national importance, including surveys by RV Samudra Ratnakar for National Investigation Agency (NIA) on the Kerala offshore for their investigation on Iranian boat case and helped the agency in completion of their enquiry proceedings through scientific inputs. The work was highly appreciated by the NIA," the statement said.

The GSI, under the Ministry of Mines, has also established occurrence of more than 10,000 million tons of lime mud which is largely calcium carbonate and may have applications in the cement industry within the Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) of India.

This was under the aegis of the flagship scheme of the High Resolution Seabed Mapping and Natural Resource Evaluation (HRSM & NRE) with the aim to "explore the vast water bodies surrounding the land mass of the earth for availability of mineral resources" in the wake of depleting mineral resources on land and for the sustainable development of the mankind.

For this, the GSI deployed Research Vessel Samudra Ratnakar (RVSR) in December 2014 along with two other RVs -- Samudra Kaustabh and Samudra Saudhikama.

"The main objectives were to identify potential zones of favourable mineralization and evaluate marine mineral resources to benefit all the stakeholders in the field of mining and geology, specifically cement, paint, fertilizer, construction and rare earth element (REE) based industries," the statement said.

At the end of three years, the organisation said it could generate 1,81,025 sq.km high resolution seabed morphological data, covered 64,928 sq.km of area for preliminary mineral investigation and established occurrence of more than 10,000 million tons of lime mud within the Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) of India.

It also confirmed occurrences of phosphatic sediment off Karwar, Mangalore and Chennai coasts and gas hydrate was reported in the channel-levee system of Mannar basin off the Tamil Nadu coast.

"GSI reported occurrences of Cobalt bearing Ferro-manganese crust from the Andaman sea and recorded occurrences of micro-manganese nodules from Lakshadweep Sea," the statement added.

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