Bangladesh finds 8 potential heavy minerals in sea beach sand

Bangladeshi scientists have found eight potential heavy economic minerals in sands of the sea beach in the country and their reserve is estimated 1.76 million tons.

Bangladesh Atomic Energy Commission (BAEC) Chairman Mosharraf Hossain told Xinhua on Tuesday at an interview that the scientists of the commission are working on the sea beach for decades, and discovered eight heavy minerals in recent time through exploration in the beach of Bangladesh's tourist capital southeastern Cox's Bazar district, 391 km of capital Dhaka.

He said the scientists found a total of 17 mineral sands deposits containing 23 percent heavy minerals and estimated reserve of them is 4.35 million tons. But only eight are economically viable for exploration. The heavy minerals found are: Ilmenite, Zircon, Rutile, Magnetite, Leucoxene, Kyanite, Garnet and Monazite.

Economical viability of the heavy mineral deposits depended on the utilization of Ilmenite, which is the most dominant component in sands approximately one million tons of the total 1.76 million tons of eight minerals, Hossain said, adding that the marketing of the Ilmenite in its present form is not possible because of its quality is a bit low with 40 percent of titanium oxide against the commercial grade Ilmenite containing 55 percent.

The minerals are scattered in an area of 7,986 hectares of land in Cox's Bazar district, located in the eastern end of the 500 km sea beach.

A high-powered government committee recently in its report said the Zircon and Monazite found are radioactive, Hossain said.

He quoted the high powered committee as reported that the minerals should not be explored now considering the tourism value and biodiversity. However, the report said the minerals could be explored in some places with permission of the Ministry of Forest and Environment.

The BAEC chairman said if the minerals are lifted and separated, in that case the rate of radioactivity could be raised. He said if the Nuclear Safety and Radiation Control Act rule is strictly followed, the radiation could be reduced.

The Australian company Premier Mineral Company a few months ago applied for development of the mineral resources from the beach, but the Bangladesh government allowed them for only to discover. The company then took 50 kg of sand from the beach and found presence of many heavy minerals.

The company then applied for lifting of the minerals, which prompted the government to form the high powered committee. The committee after discussing the issue in details gave its suggestion not to lift them now.

Chief executive of Cox's Bazar district, who is owner of the land, in a report sent to the government, said if the beach is allowed to lift the minerals, it will hurt the tourism and the biodiversity as well.

The BAEC chairman however said the quality of Ilmenite can be improved through production of synthetic Rutile, which has good commercial demand at home and abroad. It can be achieved through collaborative program or joint venture with foreign countries having expertise in upgrading and converting low grade Ilmenite into commercial one.

Source:businessghana.com/