Team Goemkarponn
Panaji: The Union Ministry of Mines has initiated a Critical Mineral Assessment Programme (CMAP) in North Goa to explore vanadium, scandium, and other vital minerals found in the lateritic rocks of the Upse block. The programme aims to identify potential zones rich in critical minerals essential for India’s fast-growing clean energy, electric mobility, and advanced technology sectors.
According to the Ministry, the global demand for critical minerals such as lithium, vanadium, scandium, cobalt, and rare earth elements (REEs) has surged due to the worldwide transition toward renewable energy, electric vehicles, and high-performance materials. To meet this rising demand, the Ministry has turned its focus to lateritic deposits, which are now being recognised as promising secondary sources of such minerals.
“With the growing global need for critical minerals, exploring secondary sources has become imperative. Lateritic deposits, in particular, show strong potential for hosting minerals like scandium, vanadium, cobalt, and nickel,” the Ministry stated.
The Upse block, part of the Dharwar Supergroup of the late Archean era, is composed of meta-volcanic and meta-sedimentary rocks, granite, mafic-ultramafic complexes, metabasalt, laterite, and coastal alluvium. Its geological composition closely aligns with the Goa Group and resembles Karnataka’s Chitradurga Group, both known for their mineral-rich formations.
Under the CMAP, systematic sampling will be conducted on a one-kilometre grid, along with 25 kilometres of traverse mapping, to study various types of laterite and identify zones of secondary mineralisation. The project will also include around 150 metres of drilling through two to three scout boreholes, depending on sampling results.
Preliminary G4-stage surveys have already identified three key sub-blocks for further exploration — Dumase-Menkure Block, selected for G3 exploration in 2025–26, and Bhenale-Cansorvornem Block and Alorna Block, which have been earmarked for future investigation. An area of about 30 sq km in southern Alorna, near the Upse sector, has shown anomalous concentrations of scandium, vanadium, and nickel, making it a strong candidate for advanced exploration.
Additionally, the Ministry plans to undertake thematic mapping of the Goa Schist Belt, part of the larger Shimoga-Goa supracrustal belt, to evaluate its potential for gold, copper, and rare earth elements (REEs). This study, starting in the current financial year, will also include mapping of ultramafic and granitic rocks in parts of Ponda and Quepem talukas.
The initiative marks a major step towards harnessing Goa’s lesser-known geological potential and aligning with India’s broader strategy for critical mineral self-reliance and sustainable resource development.
