GSI Identifies 8.1 Million Tonnes of Rare-Earth Deposit at Pata Gangaram

The Geological Survey of India (GSI) has identified an inferred resource of 8.1 million tonnes of rare-earth-bearing alluvium at Pata Gangaram in Bhadradri Kothagudem district, marking the latest critical mineral finding in Telangana.

According to details placed before the Lok Sabha, the deposit has an average Total Rare Earth Elements (TREE) grade of 746 parts per million (ppm) at a cut-off grade of 500 ppm. The disclosure was made by Satish Chandra Dubey, Union Minister of State for Coal and Mines, in a written reply to a question asked by MP Dr Mallu Ravi on August 12, 2026.

The finding at Pata Gangaram remains at the G3 inferred-resource stage under the United Nations Framework Classification, which represents a preliminary exploration phase with low geological confidence based on surface data, limited sampling, or indirect evidence. The deposit is not yet considered a proven or commercially mineable reserve and has not been notified or put up for auction.

Apart from Pata Gangaram, three other locations in Telangana have been selected for further Rare Earth Elements exploration under the Centre’s Exploration Licence programme in 2026. These areas include Kondagattu in the Jagtial-Rajanna Sircilla region, Chinna Kodur in Siddipet district, and Momanpet across the Vikarabad-Sangareddy region.

The GSI has also prepared Geological Memoranda for three critical mineral blocks containing aluminous laterite, vanadium, scandium, and gallium to be considered for auction as Composite Licences. Among them, the Baswapur block in Vikarabad district has already been notified for auction under the eighth tranche of critical mineral auctions.

Earlier, two other critical mineral blocks in Sangareddy district—Govindpur and Parvathapur—were successfully auctioned as Composite Licences by the central government. The Govindpur block contains an estimated 37.88 million tonnes of vanadium resource and 40.21 million tonnes of titanium resource, while the Parvathapur block holds an estimated 15.26 million tonnes of vanadium and over 51 million tonnes of titanium resources.