DISTRICT SURVEY REPORT SALEM DISTRICT CONTENT Chapter Page No. 1. Preamble 01 2. Introduction 02 3. Overview of mining activity in Salem District. 05 4. The list of Mining Lease details 09 5. Details of Royalty / Revenue received in last three years 77 (2014-15 to 2016-17) 6. Details of production of sand / Bajari / minor minerals in the last 78 three years (2014-15 to 2016-17) 7. Processes of deposition of sediments in the rivers of the district 79 8. General profile of the District 83 9. Land utilisation pattern in the District 87 10. Physiography of the District 89 11. Rainfall & Climate 90 12. Geology and Mineral wealth of the District 92 13. Conclusion and Recommendations 105 LIST OF FIGURE Figure. Page No. Fig.1 Geology and Minerals of Salem District 07 Fig 2. Google image showing the existing major and minor mineral mines 08 / quarries along with existing ML awarded for major minerals Fig 3 Stages of River 80 Fig 4 Area of accumulation of sediments 81 Fig5 Land use land cover map of Salem District 2010 89 Fig 6 Monthly Rainfall recorded in Salem District from 1990 to 2002 91 Fig 7 District Rainfall map Tamil Nadu 91 Fig 8 Geological map of Tamil Nadu and Pondicherry 92 Fig 9 Map showing the locations of fieldwork carried out alongwith 96 commodity Fig 10 Field Photograph (Occurrence of Calcite (minor mineral) 97 associated with Limestone/ Calc granulite (major mineral) in Kolinijipalayam Fig 11 Old working for Calcite; unscientific method of mining by digging in 97 Morur Fig 12 Old working for Calcite; unscientific method of mining by pitting & 98 digging in Morur Fig 13 Karumapuranathur Limestone Mines (ICL) 98 Fig 14 Pink Limestone/ Calc Granulite 98 Fig 15 Outcrop of Calc granulite 98 Fig 16 Pink Crystalline Limestone occurring bands within calc granulite / 98 hornblende gneiss, at places intersected by pegmatite veins in Super Mines Fig 17 Pink Pegmatodial granite (Global Jubarana/ Edappadi White) in 99 Veerapampalaiyam Fig 18 Pink Pegmatoidal granite with caughtup patches of gneiss 99 detoriating the quality and reducing the recovery percentage in God Granite, Edappadi Fig 19 Caughtup patches / intecalations o gneiss detoriating the quality 99 the reducing the recovery percentage, due to the unscientific method of exploration and resource assessment in God Granite, Edappadi Fig 20 Improper dumping of mine waste in the close vicinity of highway in 99 God Granite, Edappadi Fig 21 Caughtup patches of gneiss occurring as floats in pink granite in 100 Thangayur Village Fig 22 Occurence of mafic minerals like hornblende, pyroxene and mica 100 detaoriates the quality in Puliyampatty Village Fig 23 Typical spheroidal weathering of dolerite (black granite) and 100 development of parallel joints reducing the recovery in Kaveripuram Village Fig 24 Grain size / textural variation detoriating the quality in 100 Kaveripuram (TAMIN) Fig 25 Mining of dolerite (black granite) along the strike, view from the 100 Kaveripuram (TAMIN) Fig 26 Roughstone quarry, Charnockite, minng suspended due to the 101 objection from near by farm land in P.N. Patti, Mettur Tk Fig 27 Horizontal distance from the quarry to the farm land 101 Fig 28 Dolerite (Black Granite), poor quality due to textural variations, 101 coarse granied (flower) no scientific method of exploration and resource estimation carried out in Sentharapatty Fig 29 Test pit for black granite, poses valid ML, presence of high voltage 101 power line in the close vicinity in Senthara patty N, Koneripatty, Gangavalli Fig 30 Association of Magnesite (major mineral) with Dunite (minor 101 mineral) in Ponguru Mines Fig 31 Dunite / Talc/ Serpentine being dumped as waste which has high 101 industrial demand, can be marketable in Ponguru Mines Fig 32 Mining activity along the road site without proper fencing 102 Fig 33 Illicit mining of dunite / magnesite around Vellakkalpatti and 102 Chettichavadi area. Fig 34 Development of vermiculite mica (industrial mineral) in dunite 102 along the contact of pegmatoidal activity in Ponguru Mines Fig 35 Dumping of mine waste in the non-lease area in mookkanur 102 Fig 36 Quarry / mine in the close vicinity of Dharmapuri highway in 103 Thalavaipatti Fig 37 Illicit mining Sri Jayamurugan Blue Metal Omalur 103 Fig 38 Dumping of mine waste on patta/ poramboke land outside of the 103 lease area in Pukkampatty Fig 39 Construction of high school in less than 500 mts radius of the 103 quarry in Marakottai Fig 40 Quarry on the road side without fencing, name/sing boards and 103 lease area corner pillars; mine waste dumped on the road site in Parapattti, Fig 41 Systematic and scientific method of mining by bench making, 104 fencing, pitching of pillars, water sprinklers, Plantation, safety measures etc carried out by SRC Project Pvt. Ltd in Gajjelnaickenpatty patti Fig 42 Occurrence of Bauxite and Laterite in Yercaud hills, Salem Mining 104 is stopped and mine rehabilation by levelling and afforestation is under process District Survey Report, Salem district 1. PREAMBLE In pursuance to the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, the Government of India Notification No.SO 141 (E) dated 15.01.2016 and SO 190 ( E) dated 20.01.2016 the District Level Environment Impact Assessment Authority (DEIAA) and District Environment Appraisal Committee (DEAC) were constituted for the grant of EnvironmentalThe main purpose Clearance of preparation for category of District “B2” projects Survey forReport quarrying is to identify of Minor the Minerals. mineral resources and sustainable development of mining activities along with other relevant dataprojects of theand District. the TheDEIAA DEAC will will grant scrutinize Environmental and screen theClearance scope ofbased category on “B2”the recommendations of the DEAC for the Minor Minerals on the basis of District Survey Report. This District Survey Report was prepared by the Geological Survey of India, Chennai, in assistance of Directorate of Geology and Mining, Chennai. 1 District Survey Report, Salem district 2. Introduction Salem is located at 11.669437°N 78.140865°E, at an average elevation of 278 m (912 ft). The city is surrounded by hills: Nagaramalai on the north, Jarugumalai on the south, Kanjamalai on the west, Godumalai on the east and the Shevaroy Hills on the northeast. Kariyaperumal Hill is in southwestern Salem. The Thirumanimutharu River flows through the city, dividing it in two. The fort area is the oldest part of Salem. Salem has a tropical savanna climate (Köppen climate classification Aw). January and February are generally pleasant; the hot summer begins in March, with the year's highest temperatures during April. Pre-monsoon thunderstorms occur during April and May. The Southwest monsoon season lasts from June to September. The northeast monsoon occurs from October to December. Salem is a Geologis surrounded by hills and the landscape dotted with hillocks. The district ist’s rich paradise, in mineral deposits like Magnesite, Bauxite, Granite, Limestone, Quartz and Iron ore. Allied industries like Magnesite mining, cement manufacture, refractory bricks manufacture, Aluminium smelting etc thrive well. The general administrative setup of Salem district is tabulated below Latitude 110 14’ N - 120 53’ N Longitude 770 44’ E - 780 50’ E AREA & POPULATION 1. Area (Sq.kms) 5950 2. Population 3482056 3. Population Density (Sq.kms) 665 REVENUE ADMINISTRATION 1. Divisions (4) Salem Attur Mettur Sangakiri 2. Taluks (13) Salem Salem west Salem South Yercaud Valapadi Attur P.N.Palayam Gangavalli Omalur Mettur 2 District Survey Report, Salem district Kadayampatti Sangakiri Edappadi 3. Firkas 44 4. Revenue Villages 655 LOCAL ADMINISTRATION 1. Corporation (1) Salem 2. Municipalities (4) Attur Mettur Edappady Narasingapuram ( 3rd Grade ) 3. Panchayat Unions (20) Salem Veerapandi Panamarathupatty Ayothiyapattinam Valapady Yercaud Attur Pethanaickenpalayam Thalaivasal Gengavalli Mecheri Nangavalli Kolathur Omalur Tharamangalam Kadayampatty Sangakiri Magudanchavadi Konganapuram Edappadi 4. Town Panchayats (33) Ayothiapattanam Attayampatty Kannankurichi Kolathur Konganapuram Mechari Omalur P.N.Patty P.N.Palayam Sankari Tharamangalam Thammampatty Valapadi Veerakkalpudur Jalakandapuram Belur Eadanganasalai Elampillai 3 District Survey Report, Salem district Gangavalli Kadayampatty Karuppur Keeripatty Mallur Panamarathupatty Sendarapatty Thedavoor Thevur Veeraganur Yethapur Arasiramani Nangavalli Poolampatty Vanavasi 4. Village Panchayats (385) District map of Salem 4 District Survey Report, Salem district 3. Overview of Mining Activity in Salem District Salem is a part of Western Tamil Nadu and is located at the base of the popular tourist destination of the Yercaud hills. Salem boasts large textile, steel, automotive, poultry and sago industries. Salem also has one of the largest magnesite deposits in India. As per the Department of Geology and Mining, a major part of the mineral wealth of Tamil Nadu is confined to Salem District, where a variety of important minerals like Magnesite, Dunite, Bauxite, Limestone, Iron ore, Quartz, Feldspar and Soapstone, Granites etc, are found. In Salem district a total of 66 numbers of leases for major minerals has been awarded as on 28.09.17, out of which, 62 were non-working due to want of EC, 6 were EC obtained and 4 were working mines. For minor minerals, a total of 175 numbers of leases were awarded as on 28.09.17, out of which, 128 numbers were not working due to want of EC, and 47 mines were working out of 71 leases obtained EC. MAGNESITE: The most prominent deposit of Magnesite is located in Chalk hills of Salem over an area of 17 Sq. Kms and estimated to be 44 million tonnes. This is mined by Burn & Co (SAIL Ltd), TANMAG, Ponguru Magnesite Mines and Dalmia Bharath Sugars and Industial Limited. BAUXITE: Bauxite, ore of aluminium, occur in the form of cappings in the Shevaroy hills of Yercaud Taluk. Six Bauxite occurrences are known in Semmaduvu, Manjakuttai and Puliyur villages. LIMESTONE: The crystalline limestone of Precambrian age occur in the form of lenticular and linear bands in the Sankari Taluk which is exploited for the production of Cement by India Cements Limited, Sankari west.