Aerial geophysical survey to detect mineral deposits

H.D.H Senewiratne

The Geological Survey and the Mining Bureau was presently in the process of undertaking an aerial Geophysical Survey to detect sub surfaced minerals and deposits in the island. The Bureau is awaiting the Treasury to release US $ 17 million for this purpose.

“Under this survey, a low flying aircraft would be deployed to fly over about 100 metres above the ground fixed with magnetic machines and radiometric equipment, to identify undiscovered sub surfaced deposits of minerals in the country. Further, a especial helicopter would be used for hilly areas, “ its Chairman Dr. N.P. Wijayananda told Daily News Business.

He said that once funds had been released by the Treasury, they would be initiating the project with assistance from specialized companies for the detection and discovery of new mineral deposits in the country. This project would cover the entire country, he added.

Dr Wijayananda said that the government had taken steps to clamp down on the export of minerals in raw form , which had encouraged many industrialists to establish manufacturing plants in the country. The mineral business sector was a high risk industry, which had to undertake government and private sector enterprises. Wijayananda said that the referred to availability of minerals have been found through surface surveys and the Bureau was planning to conduct an airborne survey, using low flying aircraft, which had not been possible in the past, due to the possibility of threats from terrorists. At present two government entities including Mineral Sands Limited and Lanka Phosphate Limited, were successfully operating in the country, while the government wants to promote foreign investments to the country in this related field, he said.

He said that several countries including Korea and Holland, have expressed interest in conducting this survey and negotiations were being carried out to conduct this survey in the near future.

He said that the Bureau is presently conducting surveys in the North to locate building materials such as sand and clay, which would be suitable for the manufacture of bricks to meet the growing needs of the construction industry in the Northern Province.