Srinagar: In its first, the Geological Survey of India has found 5.9 million tonnes of Lithium deposits in Jammu and Kashmir's Reasi district.
GSI has found 5.9 million tonnes of Lithium inferred resources in the Reasi district, GSI said in a statement.
It said lithium inferred resources (G3) of 5.9 million tonnes have been found in Salal-Haimana area of Reasi.
The lithium deposits are very critical for India as the government has been focussing on electric cars, it said.
Meanwhile, District Mineral Officer Reasi Shafiq Ahmad said there was already the presence of Bauxite in composite form and during its processing Lithium was also discovered.
“GSI has now approved it and it will be taken for auction after Lithium reserves were found. We had explored it earlier also but now this time it has been approved by GSI,” he said.
He added it will now be taken up for auction at the country and UT level as it is a major mineral and has been found first time in the country.
Lithium (Li), chemical element of Group 1 (Ia) in the periodic table, is the alkali metal group and lightest of the solid elements.
The metal is soft, white, and lustrous—and several of its alloys and compounds are produced on an industrial scale.
(KNO)