Researchers from the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), Ropar, have identified tantalum, a rare metal with significant value in electronics and semi-conductors, in the Sutlej river sand in Punjab. Dr. Resmi Sebastian, assistant professor at IIT-Ropar's Civil Engineering Department, led the team which made this discovery. The finding was incidental to their original project, as they were studying dynamic properties of soil and rocks in relation to seismic activity.
This discovery is particularly important for India as tantalum is crucial for electronic manufacturing and has been identified as one of the 12 critical and strategic minerals by the Union Ministry of Mines. The presence of tantalum in the Sutlej basin has sparked curiosity about its quantity in the river, prompting discussions about the economic viability of mining such rare metals.
The discovery has led to a proposal by IIT-Ropar highlighting the identification of rare metals and other elements in the Sutlej river at various locations, which has garnered interest from the government and associated industries. The proposal suggests the collection of river samples from numerous locations to identify rare components, with a particular focus on tantalum.
The source of tantalum in the Sutlej river is not yet definitively established, but it's speculated to be linked to tectonic plate movements in the Himalayan region. While the exact origin remains uncertain, investigations are underway to shed light on this aspect, given that no industry upstream of Ropar is known to contribute to this presence. It has been noted that a significant portion of Sutlej's catchment area is in China, potentially indicating a source from that region.
The discovery of tantalum in Sutlej holds significance not only for Punjab but for India as a whole, and further studies will be vital in understanding the full scope of this finding.
