Mining of Monazite

Monazite is being exported only by Indian Rare Earth Limited (IREL), a public sector undertaking under the Department of atomic Energy. During 2008-09 and 2010-11 ,5 tonnes each and during 2009-10 2 tonnes Monazite was exported from the country.Beach sands contain heavy minerals such as limonite, leucoxne, garnet, sillimanite, zircon and monazite. The Department has not given any licenses for export of beach sand as such.

The Minister of State in the Prime Minister’s office Sh V Narayanasamy gave this information in a written reply to a question by S/Shri Kodikunnil Suresh and D B Chandre Gowda in Lok Sabha today.

KP