IIT(ISM) Dhanbad & Rajasthan’s RSMET Partner for Critical Mineral Appraisal and AI-Based Dump Site Analysis

New Delhi, Dec 12th: IIT(ISM) Dhanbad through its Technology Translation Research Park (TTRP) under DST, Government of India – TEXMiN has signed a Joint Collaboration Agreement (JCA) with Rajasthan’s Department of Mines & Geology and Rajasthan State Mineral Exploration Trust (RSMET). This partnership launches a multi-phase Critical Mineral Appraisal and Feasibility Study across Rajasthan’s principal mineral districts.

The agreement was formally exchanged during a ceremony attended by Shri Bhajan Lal Sharma, Chief Minister and Minister of Mines and Petroleum for Rajasthan; Shri G. Kishan Reddy, Union Minister of Coal & Mines; Shri T. Ravikanth (IAS), Principal Secretary of Mines & Petroleum for Rajasthan; along with other senior officials.

This strategic collaboration combines RSMET’s operational capabilities with IIT(ISM) Dhanbad’s scientific expertise through TEXMiN. The initiative will conduct detailed assessments of critical minerals, analyze mine waste dump sites, and develop technology-driven solutions for recovering valuable by-products. The partnership employs advanced mineralogical data collection and artificial intelligence to enhance Rajasthan’s leadership in sustainable mineral exploration practices.

Rajasthan’s government has cataloged over 80 mine dumps and tailings across 39 districts for comprehensive evaluation. The 18-month program aligns with national initiatives including Atmanirbhar Bharat and India’s Critical Mineral Mission. Activities will include georeferenced database development, high-resolution mapping, systematic sampling, and feasibility studies to identify strategic minerals like tungsten, lithium, cobalt, nickel, and rare earth elements within legacy mining sites.

Prof. Sukumar Mishra, Director, IIT(ISM) Dhanbad & Chairman, Hub Governing Board, TEXMiN, commented, “This agreement represents a strategic advancement in mineral resource development. By integrating scientific expertise with advanced analytics, this partnership will discover new opportunities for Rajasthan’s mining sector while prioritizing responsible resource management.”

Prof. Dheeraj Kumar, Deputy Director, IIT(ISM) Dhanbad & Project Director, TEXMiN, noted, “Rajasthan possesses substantial untapped mineral resources. Our collaboration will deploy AI-driven modeling and advanced site characterization to enable data-informed exploration decisions that support India’s mineral security objectives.”

Mr. Suraj Prakash, CEO, TEXMiN Foundation, added, “This initiative exemplifies how cross-sector collaboration can revolutionize mineral intelligence. Our integrated approach will transform legacy mining sites into valuable resources while establishing Rajasthan as a pioneer in mineral exploration technologies.”

The partnership’s first phase involves evaluating mine waste dumps and host rocks for critical minerals, including lithium, cobalt, rare earth elements, nickel, and tungsten. Secondary mineral recovery potential for elements like germanium and vanadium will also be assessed from base-metal tailings.

The second phase focuses on quantifying recoverable mineral volumes while developing environmentally sustainable beneficiation processes. This resource estimation will support Rajasthan’s strategy to maximize value extraction from existing mineral assets.

The final phase will implement a customized AI/ML platform trained on Rajasthan’s geological datasets. This predictive modeling system will identify high-prospect zones, improve exploration accuracy, and optimize mineral targeting efficiency across the state.