New mineral ''Platinum Group element'' found in Orissa

Bhubaneswar, Nov 14 (UNI) A new mineral known as ''Platinum Group Element'' has been discovered in Orissa, Steel and Mines Minister Padmanav Behera today said.

In response to a written question of Aswani Kumar Patra, Mr Behera said the new mineral was discovered in the baula mines area under possession of IMFA, FACOR and OMC Limited.

The state government, he said, had accorded permission to the FACOR to include the new minerals in their new chromite mining lease, which was yet to be executed.

The Minister said on completion of the mining lease, the concerned company would be entitled to explore the new mineral as per the Mining Concession Rules, 1960.

Mr Behera further said both IMFA and the OMC Limited had also applied to include the new mineral in their mining lease. He, however, made it clear that the three companies could not explore and transport the new mineral from their respective mines as long as it was not incorporated in the mining lease as per section 27 (1)(b) of the Mining Concession Rules, 1960.

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