PANJIM: The first-ever detailed reference book on Goa’s geology can now be referred by the post-graduate students with noted Goan author giving comprehensive details about mineral reserves. The book ‘Geology and Mineral Resources of Goa’, written by eminent geologist Prof Ashoka G Desai has provided a ready reference on the subject for research students.
“In my 33 years of career in the field of education, I always felt that there is some lacuna as students did not have any study material… Students would ask me which book to refer and I had no answer,” he said addressing a gathering of stakeholders, students and educationists during the book launch on Sunday.
After retirement from active teaching, the geologist then began his ground work and in-depth research to finally come out with the book. “It should be useful for MSc (geology) as well as BSc (geology) students,” he said indicating the book could be used as study material for under graduate students too.
The book, launched at the hands of Director of CSIR-National Institute of Oceanography Prof Sunil Kumar Singh, also speaks about depletion of ore and need to scout for newer ventures.
“The ores which are existing in the land of Goa will be exhausted within a decade or two that is why we will have to search for alternate minerals. The material that is left for extraction in the State is only laterite which is extremely important. Many of the developed countries have to depend on the third world countries for the minerals from laterites. These laterites are extremely important as they contain a group of 15 elements which are called as a rare earth minerals,” Desai said introducing his book to the people of Goa.
He said that these rare earth elements have tremendous applications and are concentrated only in the laterite. “Therefore laterite is the only potential source of these elements for future and we have them in abundance. But there are several problems to make them utilize on commercial scale. You get precious metals like Gold in the laterite,” he added.
He said that the laterite is also found below sea level in Goa that shows the paleo-tectonics that the western margin has undergone. “The sea level about 6,000 years ago was at least 100 metres down during which period these laterites were formed,” he said.
Though the book touches upon the technical aspects of geology and the formation of resources in Goa, the researcher who joined State’s lone university in the year 1987, advices that Goa should not go for overexploitation of resources the way it used to be before the Supreme Court ban in 2012.
“We should fix the maximum quantum of ore that could be mined per year locally and accordingly take up the extraction activity so that the reserves would last longer, simultaneously beneficiation/blending of low grade ores as well as processing the ores from neighbouring state should be undertaken so as to extend the life of the industry and reap maximum benefits” he said. Desai also said that the quest should be to search for new reserves and new mineral materials in the State.
