Government successfully auctioned potash & Halite Mining blocks for the first time

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India successfully auctioned 10 out of 15 critical mineral blocks in its fifth tranche.

Auction achieved a historic first step by successfully auctioning potash and halite blocks aimed at reducing fertilizer imports and boosting agriculture self-reliance.
- Mining will begin in Rajasthan at Jhandawali-Satipura & Jorkian-Satipura- Khunja Amalgamated Potash & Halite Blocks.
This also marked the first-ever successful auction of a critical & strategic mineral block in Rajasthan.

About Potash

Definition: Potash is the general name given to various inorganic compounds that contain potassium in a water-soluble form.
- It is an impure combination of potassium carbonate & potassium (K) salts.
Principal ore: Sylvinite (A mixture of sylvite (KCl) and halite (NaCl)).
Occurrence: Major part (91%) is located in Nagaur district of Rajasthan, followed by Panna district, Madhya Pradesh (5%) and in Sonbhadra & Chitrakoot districts, Uttar Pradesh (4%).
Import: India meets 100% of its Potash requirement through imports (Indian Mineral yearbook 2022).

Agriculture: Potash as fertilizer improves crop yield, disease resistance, texture, color, nutrient value, and taste.
Purification of water: Potash alum removes hardness of water & has anti-bacterial properties.
Others: Manufacturing of glass, ceramics, soap & detergent, dye, synthetic rubber and chemicals.
- Potassium nitrate is used in explosive manufacture.

Halite, commonly known as table salt or rock salt, is composed of sodium chloride (NaCl).
- It is a sedimentary mineral that usually forms in arid climates where ocean water evaporates.
Usage: Halite is widely used in road safety (De-icer in winter), chemical industry (mainly for the preparation of sodium hydroxide, soda ash, hydrochloric acid, chlorine and metallic sodium),water softening, etc.