Hyderabad: The Geological Survey of India (GSI) has identified an inferred resource of 8.1 million tonnes of rare-earth-bearing alluvium at Pata Gangaram in Bhadradri Kothagudem district, marking the latest rare-earth-related finding reported from Telangana. The deposit has an average Total Rare Earth Elements (TREE) grade of 746 parts per million (ppm) at a cut-off grade of 500 ppm, according to details placed before the Lok Sabha.The finding is at the G3 inferred-resource stage and should not be treated as a proven or commercially mineable reserve. The Pata Gangaram deposit has also not yet been notified or put up for auction.The disclosure came in the Union govt’s reply to Lok Sabha answered on August 12, 2026, detailing exploration, auctions and policy measures relating to critical and strategic minerals in Telangana. G3 inferred resource stage means a preliminary exploration phase under the United Nations Framework Classification (UNFC) where a mineral deposit has low geological confidence and is estimated mainly from surface data, limited sampling, or indirect evidence rather than detailed drilling.Three more areas in Telangana taken up for REE explorationApart from Pata Gangaram, three areas in Telangana have been identified for further Rare Earth Elements (REE) exploration under the Centre’s Exploration Licence programme in 2026.These are Kondagattu in the Jagtial-Rajanna Sircilla region, Chinna Kodur in Siddipet district and Momanpet in the Vikarabad-Sangareddy region. These are exploration blocks where further work is required to establish the extent and grade of mineralisation.GSI has also prepared three Geological Memoranda covering critical mineral blocks associated with aluminous laterite, including vanadium, scandium and gallium, and submitted them to the Central govt for consideration for auction as Composite Licences (CL).Of the three, the Baswapur Titanium, Vanadium, Gallium and Aluminous Laterite Block in Vikarabad district has already been notified for auction under the eighth tranche of critical mineral block auctions. The other two blocks covered by the Geological Memoranda are yet to be auctioned.Sangareddy blocks already auctionedTwo other critical mineral blocks in Sangareddy district , Govindpur and Parvathapur, have already been successfully auctioned by the Centre as Composite Licences.At the Govindpur Vanadium, Titanium and Aluminous Laterite Mine Block, the estimated vanadium resource is 37.88 million tonnes (MT) with an average grade of 0.35% vanadium pentoxide (V₂O₅) at a 500 ppm vanadium cut-off. The titanium resource is estimated at 40.21 MT with an average grade of 4.5% titanium dioxide (TiO₂) at a 3% TiO₂ cut-off.The block also has an estimated 67.03 MT of aluminous laterite, with an average grade of 29.02% aluminium oxide (Al₂O₃).At the Parvathapur Vanadium, Titanium and Aluminous Laterite Mine Block, the vanadium resource has been estimated at 15.26 MT with an average grade of 0.404% V₂O₅, at a cut-off of more than 0.3% V₂O₅.Its titanium resources comprise 45 MT averaging 3.83% TiO₂ at a 3-5% cut-off and another 6.3 MT averaging 5.49% TiO₂ at a cut-off above 5%. The aluminous laterite resource is estimated at 87 MT, averaging 29.23% Al₂O₃.Centre moves to speed up critical mineral projectsThe Centre has also outlined measures aimed at speeding up auctions and operationalisation of critical mineral blocks. Amendments to the Mineral (Auction) Rules, 2015 introduced intermediary timelines, automated declaration of preferred bidders and issuance of Letters of Intent (LoI), besides bidder-accountability provisions and incentives for early operationalisation.A dedicated Project Management Unit (PMU) has been set up in the Ministry of Mines, while the Unified Mining Portal (UMP) is being used for end-to-end digital tracking.Pre-Auction Committees have also been formed in major mineral-producing states to address land scheduling issues before bidding, while state-level coordination committees under Chief Secretaries are meant to resolve local bottlenecks.The Centre has also provided financial incentives to states under the Scheme for Special Assistance to States for Capital Investment (SASCI) for financial year 2025-26. Other reforms include allowing additional minerals to be included in existing leases and removing restrictions on sale of minerals from captive mines. Satish Chandra Dubey, the minister of state for coal and mines answered the question of MP Dr Mallu Ravi.
