Mineral Resources — Revision Notes

⚡ 30-Second Revision

2025 USGS: reserves are dynamic economic inventories.
29 January 2025: NCMM approval.
Ore × grade = contained metal; then apply recovery.
Resource ≠ reserve ≠ producing mine.
Mining capability ≠ refining self-sufficiency.

2-Minute Revision

A million tonnes at 1% contains 10,000 tonnes of metal; 80% recovery gives 8,000. A reserve-to-production ratio is not a fixed exhaustion date. Criticality concerns importance and supply risk across the chain. NCMM's ₹16,300 crore expenditure and ₹18,000 crore expected investment retain different categories and do not establish completed output.

5-Minute Revision

Recalculate the ore example and identify the mistaken base behind 800,000 tonnes. Draw exploration → mining → processing → manufacturing → end-of-life recovery, then place a possible bottleneck at each stage. Explain how a country can have a resource and still import refined material. Finish by distinguishing a programme announcement from an outcome indicator.

Vyyuha Quick Recall

Rock → grade → recovery → capability → responsibility.