CM Bhajan Lal Sharma : Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning technology will also be used to explore minerals in Rajasthan. Principal Secretary Mines and Geology T. Ravikant said that under the pilot project, critical and strategic mineral potential areas will be identified through AI at some places in Bhilwara and Bharatpur as well as Chittorgarh. He informed that it has been decided to use AI as part of innovation in mineral sector and for this Rajasthan State Mineral Exploration Trust RSMET will start working with Central Government and Notified Private Exploration Agency.
Chief Minister Bhajan Lal Sharma, who is also the Mines Minister of the state, is moving ahead with the goal of making the state the top state in the country in the field of mineral exploration and mining. Today, Rajasthan has become the top state in the country in the auction of major minerals, while the revenue from the mineral sector has also increased significantly. Now emphasis is being laid to speed up the exploration work of precious minerals hidden in the underground of the state so that out of the 82 types of minerals available in the state, more and more mineral deposits can be discovered and mined. At present, 57 types of minerals are being mined in the state.
Principal Secretary Shri T. Ravikant informed that work will be started in Bhilwara-Bharatpur and Chittorgarh as a pilot project through Artificial Intelligence. On the basis of the report received from the AI study, chemical analysis of the samples will be done by conducting priority drilling at the identified places of mineral potential and based on the results, the blocks will be prepared and auction action will be taken. He said that while traditional method of prospecting consumes more time and money, the exploration work through Artificial Intelligence will save time, money and labour as well as the possibility of ensuring quality and mineral availability in exploration in a scientific manner will be more.
Exploration using AI by Government of India’s NPEA Critical Mineral Tracker at Hyderabad will analyse the available data of Central, State Government and other exploration agencies, satellite mapping and ground penetration radar etc. at various stages to find out the availability, quality etc. of mineral resources in a particular area. Along with other minerals, more emphasis is being given by the central and state governments on the exploration of critical and strategic minerals. Major minerals in the state are likely to have abundant deposits of critical and strategic minerals including copper, basemetal, iron along with abundant deposits of limestone. The work in Maharashtra and Chhattisgarh is being done by Critical Mineral Tracker, a private exploration agency notified by the central government, which is working as a pilot project in the state.
Director Mines Deepak Tanwar informed that AI will be used for the first time in mineral exploration by the department. He said that this innovation will definitely give a new direction and momentum to mineral exploration in the state.
—-