Ministry of Mines shifts Barytes, Felspar, Mica and Quartz from minor to major minerals
The Ministry of Mines, by a gazette notification dated 20 February 2025, shifted Barytes, Felspar, Mica and Quartz from the list of minor minerals to the category of major minerals.
Summary
By a gazette notification dated 20 February 2025, the Ministry of Mines reclassified Barytes, Felspar, Mica and Quartz from minor to major minerals, following the Union Cabinet's approval of the National Critical Mineral Mission on 29 January 2025. Quartz, Felspar and Mica occur in pegmatite rocks that are a source of critical minerals such as beryl, lithium, niobium and tantalum, which were going unreported when these were mined as minor minerals for construction or ceramics; baryte is found with ores of antimony, cobalt, copper, lead, manganese and silver. The shift was recommended by the Inter-Ministerial Committee on the mines and minerals sector chaired by NITI Aayog Member Dr V.K. Saraswat. Existing leases will be extended to 50 years from the date of grant, or till the end of the renewal period if later, under Section 8A of the MMDR Act, 1957; mines get until 30 June 2025 to register with the Indian Bureau of Mines, and revenue will continue to accrue to the states.
Key facts
- Gazette date
- 20 February 2025
- Minerals
- Barytes, Felspar, Mica, Quartz
- Recommended by
- Inter-Ministerial Committee chaired by Dr V.K. Saraswat (NITI Aayog)
- Link
- National Critical Mineral Mission (approved 29 January 2025)
- Lease period
- 50 years under Section 8A, MMDR Act, 1957
- Transition
- Until 30 June 2025 (IBM registration)
- Revenue
- Continues to accrue to state governments
Practice MCQs 4 questions
Which of the following minerals was NOT among those shifted from minor to major minerals by the Ministry of Mines in February 2025?
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Correct answer: A — Limestone
The minerals shifted were Barytes, Felspar, Mica and Quartz; limestone was not part of this notification.
The Inter-Ministerial Committee that recommended reclassifying Barytes, Felspar, Mica and Quartz as major minerals was chaired by:
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Correct answer: B — Dr V.K. Saraswat
The Inter-Ministerial Committee on the mines and minerals sector was chaired by NITI Aayog Member Dr V.K. Saraswat.
Quartz, Felspar and Mica were reclassified partly because they occur in which rocks that are an important source of critical minerals like lithium and beryl?
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Correct answer: C — Pegmatite
Quartz, Felspar and Mica are found in pegmatite rocks, an important source of critical minerals such as beryl, lithium, niobium and tantalum.
Consider the following statements about the reclassification of Barytes, Felspar, Mica and Quartz as major minerals (February 2025): 1. Revenue from these mines will now accrue to the Central Government instead of the states. 2. Existing leases will be extended to 50 years from the date of grant under Section 8A of the MMDR Act, 1957. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
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Correct answer: B — 2 only
The Ministry said revenue from these mines will continue to accrue to the state governments, while leases get extended to 50 years from the date of grant (or till the end of the renewal period, if later) under Section 8A, so only the second statement is correct.