Geoscience Pulse (Important Updates for CGSE interview Part-1) | GeologyConcepts.com

Summary

This video provides crucial updates for UPC Geoscientist interview preparation, covering key developments in the field of geology. Topics include the discovery of significant lithium resources in Jammu and Kashmir, India’s ambitious Deep Ocean Mission, and the Mines and Minerals Development Amendment Bill, which opens up the private sector to critical mineral exploration. The video also discusses the environmental crisis in Joshimath, the discovery of a new dinosaur fossil, and the impact of groundwater depletion on Earth's axis. These updates are vital for both exam preparation and awareness in geological research and societal impact.

Takeaways

• 😀 India has discovered 5.9 million tons of lithium resources in Jammu and Kashmir, marking a significant development for the country’s goals of reducing carbon emissions.
• 😀 Lithium is crucial for electric vehicle batteries, renewable energy storage, and pacemakers, making it a strategic resource for India’s energy transition.
• 😀 The discovery is in the preliminary exploration (G3) stage, which follows reconnaissance and preliminary surveys, with more exploration stages ahead.
• 😀 India’s Deep Ocean Mission focuses on polymetallic nodules, which contain valuable metals like nickel, cobalt, and copper, and is an integral part of India's oceanic exploration rights.
• 😀 The Indian government has committed 8,000 crore rupees to the Deep Ocean Mission, aiming to boost resource extraction and exploration in the Central Indian Ocean Basin.
• 😀 The Mines and Mineral Development Regulation Amendment Bill 2023 has opened up the mining sector to private participation, especially for critical minerals like lithium and cobalt.
• 😀 The central government now has the authority to auction mining leases and composite licenses for essential minerals, promoting a more equitable revenue distribution.
• 😀 Joshimath, Uttarakhand, is facing an environmental crisis due to geological instability, with over 700 homes affected by landslides and erosion.
• 😀 The Joshimath disaster is worsened by the town’s location on ancient landslide deposits and its positioning in a highly seismic zone, requiring urgent action for relocation and better planning.
• 😀 A new dinosaur fossil discovered in India, *Tharosaurus indicos*, is the oldest known fossil of a long-necked, plant-eating dinosaur, providing insights into India's role in the evolution of sauropods.
• 😀 A study has revealed that excessive groundwater extraction has impacted Earth's axis of rotation, contributing to global sea level rise between 1993 and 2010, emphasizing the environmental consequences of human activity.

Q & A

What is the significance of the lithium discovery in Jammu & Kashmir for India?

The lithium discovery in Jammu & Kashmir, with 5.9 million tons of lithium resources, is crucial for India’s energy goals. It could reduce the country’s dependence on imports from countries like China, as lithium is vital for electric vehicle batteries, renewable energy storage, and medical devices. This discovery supports India’s ambition to achieve net-zero carbon emissions by 2070.

What are the stages of geological exploration for lithium?

Geological exploration for lithium follows a structured process. It starts with the reconnaissance survey (G4), which identifies the mineralized area. This is followed by preliminary exploration (G3), which is the current stage of the lithium discovery in Jammu & Kashmir. The next stages include general exploration (G2) and detailed exploration (G1), where more information is gathered for commercial extraction.

How does the Deep Ocean Mission benefit India?

The Deep Ocean Mission aims to explore polymetallic nodules on the ocean floor, which contain valuable minerals like nickel, copper, and cobalt. This mission could provide strategic and economic benefits for India, as the country has exploration rights over a large area in the central Indian Ocean Basin. The project is also aligned with global efforts in deep-sea mining, which could contribute to the country’s resource base.

What are polymetallic nodules, and why are they important?

Polymetallic nodules are potato-shaped mineral deposits found on the ocean floor, rich in elements like nickel, copper, cobalt, and manganese. These nodules are of economic and strategic importance due to the growing demand for these metals in technology, energy storage, and manufacturing industries.

What key changes were introduced by the Mines and Mineral Development Regulation Amendment Bill of 2023?

The 2023 amendment bill introduces several key changes: it allows the private sector to participate in the exploration and mining of critical minerals like lithium and nickel. The central government can now auction mining leases for these minerals, and a new exploration license has been introduced for deep-seated minerals like copper and gold, encouraging private sector involvement and equitable revenue distribution between the center and state governments.

What is the environmental crisis facing Joshimath, Uttarakhand?

Joshimath, Uttarakhand, is experiencing a growing environmental crisis, with over 700 houses cracking due to the town's location on ancient landslide deposits. The region is in a high-risk seismic zone (Zone 5), and the 2013 and 2021 floods have accelerated erosion. Efforts to address the crisis include relocating residents, improving town planning, and enhancing weather forecasting and scientific studies to understand the root causes.

How is Joshimath’s geographical location contributing to its environmental crisis?

Joshimath’s location on ancient landslide deposits makes it highly vulnerable to disturbances, including seismic activity from active faults nearby. The town lies in Zone 5, the highest seismic risk zone, and is prone to landslides and erosion, exacerbated by floods and human interventions.

What is the significance of the dinosaur fossil discovery in India?

The discovery of the oldest fossil of a long-necked plant-eating dinosaur in India is significant as it provides insights into India’s role in the evolution of sauropod dinosaurs. The fossils, found in the Thar Desert, date back 116 million years and represent a previously unknown species, *Tharosaurus indicos*, marking an important step in understanding India’s paleontological history.

How has excessive groundwater extraction affected the Earth's axis?

Excessive groundwater extraction for drinking and irrigation has caused a shift in Earth's axis of rotation. The study shows that this depletion has contributed to global sea level rise and led to a slow but noticeable drift of Earth's axis, moving eastward at a rate of 4.36 cm per year. While not causing significant real-life consequences, this shift highlights the impact of human activities on the planet’s physical properties.

What measures are being considered to mitigate the environmental crisis in Joshimath?

To address the crisis in Joshimath, measures include relocating residents to safer areas, rethinking town planning to adapt to shifting geological dynamics, and enhancing reforestation efforts to improve soil retention. Additionally, improving weather forecasting with satellite and Doppler radar technology is a priority, and scientific studies are crucial to understanding the underlying causes of the crisis.