Nayakkarpatti Tungsten Block

Source: TNIE

Context: Tamil Nadu’s Nayakkarpatti Tungsten Block, auctioned to Hindustan Zinc Ltd., faces controversy over its overlap with the Arittapatti Biodiversity Heritage Site, raising ecological and cultural concerns.

Nayakkarpatti Tungsten Block:

• Location: Spread across 20.16 sq. km in Tamil Nadu, covering villages like Kavattayampatty, Ettimangalam, and Arittapatti.

• Critical Mineral: Tungsten is categorized as a critical and strategic mineral, essential for national development.

• Clearances Required: Mining can only proceed after obtaining forest and environmental clearances, excluding sensitive areas like biodiversity sites.

Arittapatti Biodiversity Heritage Site:

• District: Madurai. Includes Arittapatti and Meenakshipuram villages.

• Includes Arittapatti and Meenakshipuram villages.

• Ecological Importance: Home to 250 bird species, including Laggar Falcon, Shaheen Falcon, and Bonelli’s Eagle. Wildlife includes Indian Pangolin, Slender Loris, and Pythons.

• Home to 250 bird species, including Laggar Falcon, Shaheen Falcon, and Bonelli’s Eagle.

• Wildlife includes Indian Pangolin, Slender Loris, and Pythons.

• Water Resources: Notable waterbody: Anaikondan Lake, built during the Pandiyan era.

• Notable waterbody: Anaikondan Lake, built during the Pandiyan era.

• Cultural Significance: Hosts megalithic structures, Tamil Brahmi inscriptions, Jain beds, and rock-cut temples.

• Hosts megalithic structures, Tamil Brahmi inscriptions, Jain beds, and rock-cut temples.

About Tungsten:

• Properties: Known for its high melting point (highest among metals) and exceptional strength. Resistant to corrosion and thermal expansion, making it ideal for industrial applications.

• Known for its high melting point (highest among metals) and exceptional strength.

• Resistant to corrosion and thermal expansion, making it ideal for industrial applications.

• Uses: Used in manufacturing cutting tools, heavy machinery, and electrical components. Essential for defense (armor-piercing projectiles) and aerospace industries. Key component in lighting (filaments) and electronics.

• Used in manufacturing cutting tools, heavy machinery, and electrical components.

• Essential for defense (armor-piercing projectiles) and aerospace industries.

• Key component in lighting (filaments) and electronics.

• Global Supply: China dominates global tungsten production, contributing over 80% of the supply. Tungsten is categorized as a critical mineral due to its strategic importance.

• China dominates global tungsten production, contributing over 80% of the supply.

• Tungsten is categorized as a critical mineral due to its strategic importance.

• Indian Resources: Major reserves in Karnataka (42%), Rajasthan (27%), Andhra Pradesh (17%), and Maharashtra (9%). Smaller deposits in Tamil Nadu, Haryana, Uttarakhand, and West Bengal.

• Major reserves in Karnataka (42%), Rajasthan (27%), Andhra Pradesh (17%), and Maharashtra (9%).

• Smaller deposits in Tamil Nadu, Haryana, Uttarakhand, and West Bengal.

• Recent Auctions in India: First tungsten blocks successfully auctioned in 2024 at Nayakkarpatti (Tamil Nadu) and Balepalyam (Andhra Pradesh). Hindustan Zinc Limited won mining rights, marking a milestone in India’s critical mineral strategy.

• First tungsten blocks successfully auctioned in 2024 at Nayakkarpatti (Tamil Nadu) and Balepalyam (Andhra Pradesh).

• Hindustan Zinc Limited won mining rights, marking a milestone in India’s critical mineral strategy.

Insta links:

• Biodiversity-heritage-site