Survey invents over Tk 5 tr minerals in Teesta basin

Mahfuja Mukul : A recent geophysical survey from the entrance to Kurigram to Gaibandha downstream and the chars in the Teesta river basin by the Institute of Mining, Mineralogy and Metallurgy of Joypurhat found six precious minerals worth Tk 3630 crore. The natural resources could be more than the estimation if a techno economic survey and evaluationconduct by modern system.
A source of the survey team told Daily Industry that the proper survey could find out more precious minerals including gold. They forecasted a reserve of minerals in the basin worth Tk 5 trillion.
The Brahmaputra River originates from the Manas Sarovar near the Kailash peak of the Himalayas and flows through Tibet and Assam, India before entering Bangladesh through Kurigram. The river Brahmaputra coming down from the upstream got its name from the Sagata of Gaibandha. Due to lack of water flow, sand dunes have arisen in Jamuna-Brahmaputra. And the research has revealed the information that thousands of crores of taka of mineral resources are hidden in the sand of this pasture.
The Institute of Mining, Mineralogy and Metallurgy has reported the discovery of six valuable minerals in the sand of the Brahmaputra river flowing through Gaibandha and Kurigram. They say that the price of mineral resources found in each square kilometer area is at least Tk 3,630 crore without techno economic evaluation. Citing the research, scientists said that there are a lot of mineral resources in the sand of this river.
Precious minerals are ilmenite, rutile, zircon, magnetite, garnet and quartz.
Rutile is used in the production of paints, plastics, welding rods, inks, foods, cosmetics and medicines. Australia, India, Italy, Sri Lanka, Thailand, South Africa, Sierra Leone and the United States export this valuable mineral resource all over the world. Zircon is used in ceramics, tiles, refectories and molding sands. Currently, Australia, South Africa, India, China, Brazil, Sierra Leone and the United States export this mineral throughout the world.
Magnetite is used in the production of magnets and steel, in the cleaning of coal extracted from mines, and in the drilling of deep wells in oil and gas exploration. Only two countries in the world export this valuable mineral resource to the whole world. The two countries are South Africa and Australia. Garnet is a heavy and valuable mineral. It is used in the manufacture of corrugated paper, cleaning of ferrous pipes and sand blasting. Currently, Australia and India export the mineral around the world.
Director of the Institute of Mining, Mineralogy and Metallurgy of Joypurhat, which researches on mineral resources Mohammad Nazim Zaman said, we conduct a geophysical survey from the entrance to Kurigram to Gaibandha downstream and the chars in the Teesta river basin. A preliminary study was conducted from 2010 to 2012 to determine which minerals are present in the area. As it is effective, the Prime Minister directed to pilot this issue. Then an ATP project was taken up in 2017. According to that project, a mineral research institute was established at Joypurhat. Research here found precious minerals in Brahmaputra river.
He said that a few years ago, two and a half thousand tons of sand was collected from different sandbanks of Kurigram and Gaibandha. 2 kg of ilminite, 200 g of rutile, 400 g of zircon, 3.8 kg of magnetite, 12 kg of garnet and 50 kg of quartz minerals are obtained from each ton of sand following various processes at the mineral processing center.
Citing research Dr. Mohammad Nazim Zaman said, the market value of sand used for construction after extraction from every square kilometer area at a depth of 10 meters is Tk 80 to 100 crores. And the market value of minerals obtained from the same area is Tk 3,630 crores. The government will determine through research how which process and which organization will extract these minerals.